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mélasse

molasses

noun meh-LASS Rare
Food & Drink Ingredients

Origin: from Portuguese melaço, from Latin mel, 'honey'

Also means

treacle

Usage Note

Mélasse is the dark, thick syrup that remains after refining sugar cane or beets. Figuratively, être dans la mélasse ('to be in the molasses') is a common French idiom meaning to be in a tight spot or in deep trouble. The plural is rarely used as the substance is typically uncountable.

Examples

"Elle ajoute de la mélasse pour adoucir la sauce."

Natural Translation

She adds molasses to sweeten the sauce.

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