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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Triacle, Tryakill, n. Also: tryacle, triakle, tryakle, triakil, tryackill, treacle. [ME and e.m.E. triacle (a1310), treacle (Chaucer), tryacle (a1400), OF triacle, f. as Theriac n.]

1. A medicinal compound or salve. Also in fig. context. = Theriac n. Also attrib. and comb.Some quots. may refer to treacle, the by-product of sugar-refining (first recorded in this sense in Eng. in 1694). 1456 Hay II 142/19.
Gude wyne [is] … comperit to venym of serpentis … of the quhilkis is made the triacle, of the quhilkis is made a generale medicyne to hele all maladies of poysoun and venym c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 39/26.
Deithe is in my breist … Quhilk may no balme nor tryacle asswage c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 131/87.
Or lat the vennim ische all out—Be war anone, for it will spout Gif that the tryackill cum nocht tyt To swage the swalme of my dispyt 1513 Doug. xii Prol. 144.
Hailsum of smell as ony spicery, Tryakill [Sm. tryakle, Ruddim. triakil], droggis, or electuary 1559 Exch. R. XIX 85.
[4 s. of a certain spice called] triakle 1569 Edinb. Test. 336b.
Foure barrellis of tryakill 1576 Edinb. Test. IV 133b.
Thre buistis of tryacle price v s. viij d. 1579, 1617 Despauter (1579).
Theriace [1617, theriaca], tryakill 1586 Edinb. Test. XVII 23.
Tua dissone of tryakill & grene gynger 1597 Bk. Rates 11b.
Inuarte Custumes … Triacle the pund 1673 Leith Customs 15.
60 pound comon tryacle [£3] 28½ pound venice treacle [15 s.]attrib. 1575 Dumfries B. Ct. 20 Jan.
Ane tryakill barrell 1576 Edinb. Test. 133b.
Ane tryacle barrell price xviij d.comb. 1641 Anal. Scot. I 140.
I caused scarifie it presently, and wash it with tryacle water & yet it swelled very much, and it was a fourthnight eire it was cured 1688 Tryal Philip Standsfield 22.
As soon as the deponent recovered out of his amazement, he cryed his boy to give the pannal some triacle-water

b. fig. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 694 (Harl.).
For of sik mater medicinall memorie It is ane triacle all syn for tyll assuage a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1285 (Harl.) (see Triabill adj.).
Tryakill

2. Put for, or ? erron. for, Trial(l n. 1. 1554–5 Stirling B. Rec. I 62.
The provest [etc.] … sall persew the letteres rasit … aganis William Bell … quhill the triakle of the treutht tharof may be had 1556 Perth Convener Ct. Bk. No. 26.
That ȝour l[ordschip] lat nocht hir gude grace be brokin by vs be sinistir informacioun vnto hir gracis cuming heir & tak the tryakill how the mater standis 1561 Inverness Rec. I 65.
For tacking of ordour for relewing of the baillies at the chekker and for tryakill taking towart thair commoun gude 1563 Montgomery Mem. 195.
As to the dettis that I am awand, … I reffer that samyne to be tane tryakill of be my said spous