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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Theriac, Theriaca, n. [Late ME and e.m.E. tiriake, tyriake, tariake (all c1440), theriaca (1562), OE tyriaca, MF thériaque, med. L. theriacum, late L. theriaca.] A medicinal compound or salve used to combat various diseases, or as an antidote to poison. —(a) 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 22.
Quha knawis not quhat humor redundis maist in thair bodeis, tak ane drach of pil. aggregatiue, quhilkis are maist profitable in sic cais. The nixt day thairefter ane drachme of theriac is conducent, quhilk because in thir dayis is not weill dispensit, nor to be had guid, twa drachmis of this electuare followand may be takin 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 24.
Ane half vnce of guid auld theriac —(b) 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 28.
Prouokand sweit & sleip thairefter & quha ar corrept be pest augment als meikill of theriaca, procurand sweit without sleip 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 72.
He first scarified the flech that was about the wound, then he caused spread some theriac (one of the rarest contrepoisons, made mainly of the flech of the viper) on a cloath which he applied to it