molass

Noun

molass (countable and uncountable, plural molasses)

1. A viscous byproduct of sugar production, raw molasses. Singular of molasses.
   • After a little time the molass is run out through an outlet made in the lower part of the apparatus.1906, Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons, Sessional Papers - Volume 121, page 17
   • Northbound molass quantities that were conveyed through the Suez Canal amounted this year to 2 075 000 tons, against 1 950 000 tons in 1993, registering an increase of 125 000 tons, equal to 6.4%.1994, Suez Canal Report, page 46
2. (India) A sweet hard candy made from molasses.
   • "Perhaps you're right,” said Sudhama, “but give me please a handful of puffed rice and a piece of molass.”2004, Raja Rao, The Great Indian Way: A Life of Mahatma Gandhi, page 19
   • Yet that was not the first molass stick I had tasted, for my mother had bought me molass sticks before.2007, Nawal El Saadawi, Woman at Point Zero, page 71
3. (Scotland) Cheap whiskey made from molasses.
   • From peuking with porter no thirst can ensue, Not so, my dear knights, fares the ignorant ass Who drinks all the evening at burning molass.1773, Robert Ferguson, The Poetical Works of Robert Ferguson, page 212
   • The only guid molass has dune, Some drouthie wives it's sent hame soon; Which gars their dearies canty croon, The praise o' sugar whisky, O!1813, George Bruce, Poems, Ballads and Songs on Various Occasions, page 24