Molasses
Molasses is a thick, dark syrup made from sugar cane. While known across the U.S., in Southern and Appalachian kitchens it was a staple sweetener, poured on biscuits, stirred in beans, and remembered in the saying "slower than molasses in January."
Hillbilly Dude Says...
'Molasses' was common growin' up, but not nearly as much now. Hillbilly Dude Says...
'Molasses' was common growin' up, but not nearly as much now. Pronunciation
[muh-LASS-iz] or [muh-LASS-uhs]
Meaning & Usage
- A syrup from sugar cane (noun)
Mae:
What you sweetenin’ them biscuits with?
What you sweetenin’ them biscuits with?
Earl:
Drizzled some molasses on ’em.
Drizzled some molasses on ’em.- A common figure of speech (noun, figurative)
Mae:
Why’s it takin’ so long?
Why’s it takin’ so long?
Earl:
He’s movin’ like molasses in January.
He’s movin’ like molasses in January.variations: ’lasses, cane molasses, blackstrap, thick syrup, cane lasses
★ In Appalachian talk, molasses was shortened to "’lasses." People also contrasted it with **sorghum** - a lighter, homemade syrup often called "sorghum molasses." ★
Origin and Etymology
From Portuguese "melaço," meaning syrup. Brought into English in the 1500s. By the 1800s, molasses was a kitchen staple in the South and Appalachia, sweetening foods before refined sugar was common.
Usage Notes
Still known everywhere, but strongest in memory in rural Southern and Appalachian kitchens. The phrase "slower than molasses in January" remains one of the most common figurative uses.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "muh-lass-iz." Drawn out a little in mountain talk: "’lasses."