[f. ENTRENCH v. + -MENT.]
1. The action of enclosing within trenches.
In mod. Dicts.
b. concr. That which is formed by entrenching; a line of trenches, a post fortified by trenches; loosely, a fortification.
α. 1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. xi. 6. Seven of the same against the Castle gate In strong entrenchments he did closely place.
1649. Cromwell, Lett., 17 Sept. They got ground of the enemy, and by the Goodness of God, forced him to quit his entrenchments.
1670. Cotton, Espernon, I. IV. 166. A great Ditch, which the torrent of Land floods had worn, and hollow’d into the form of a regular entrenchment.
1772. Pennant, Tours Scotl. (1774), 74. A strong entrenchment on a steep and lofty clay cliff.
1813. Wellington, in Gurw., Disp., XI. 177. The 52nd regiment … carried the entrenchment with the bayonet.
1847. Emerson, Repr. Men, Napoleon, Wks. (Bohn), I. 372. A thunderbolt in the attack, he was found invulnerable in his entrenchments.
β. 1622. F. Markham, Bk. War, V. iv. 175. Intrenchments, fortifications places of approach.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb. (1702), II. VII. 357. He Besieged them in their own Intrenchment.
1732. Lediard, Sethos, II. X. 371. To surprize him in the middle of his intrenchments.
1796. Burke, Corr., IV. 353. Had your miserable slanderers been there, to make an intrenchment of their worthless carcasses.
fig. c. 1630. B. Jonson, To Inigo Marquis Would-be. When thou … canst of truth the least entrenchment pitch.
1741. C. Middleton, Cicero, I. II. (ed. 2), 154. Had forced the entrenchments of the Nobility.
1865. Dickens, Mut. Fr., II. 27. This sally on a weak point of Mrs. Wilfer’s entrenchments.
1876. E. Mellor, Priesth., viii. 385. The sacerdotalists have here an intrenchment from which they can never be dislodged.
† 2. The action of trenching upon something; encroachment, intrusion. Obs.
1649. Selden, Laws Eng., I. (1739), 202. Kings looking upon this as an intrenchment upon their Prerogative.
1684. Charnock, Attrib. God (1834), I. 760. All the speeches of men … are intrenchments upon God’s wise disposal of affairs.
1691–8. Norris, Pract. Disc., IV. 182. An intrenchment upon Publick Decency.
a. 1694. Tillotson, Serm., xl. (1742), III. 159. A high entrenchment upon the office of [etc.].
