• IPA: /ˈtɹɛntʃə(ɹ)/

trencher (plural trenchers)

1. (archaic) A long plate on which food is served and/or cut.
   • 1610, The Tempest, by Shakespeare, act 2 scene 2

     No more dams I'll make for fish;

     Nor fetch in firing

     At requiring,

     Nor scrape trenchering, nor wash dish;

     'Ban 'Ban, Ca—Caliban,

     Has a new master—Get a new man.

   • 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling. In Six Volumes, volume (please specify ), London: Printed by A[ndrew] Millar, […], OCLC 928184292 ↗:

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     Mrs Partridge, upon this, immediately fell into a fury, and discharged the trencher on which she was eating, at the head of poor Jenny […]

2. One who trenches; especially, one who cuts or digs ditches.
3. A machine for digging trenches.