le Molasses comes from the late Latin word mellaceus, English term treacle comes via the French triacle from the Latin theriaca, meaning anti-dotes against poison. Medieval pharmacists used sugar syrups to compound their treacle can Food Words: Molasses,Treacwhich meant “like honey.” The drugs, and came to refer to the syrups by a term for the remedies. Today, mean both dark, strong molasses or the lighter, more delicate refiner’s syrups.