[f. TRENCH v. + -ER1.] One who trenches.
† 1. One who carves; a carver. Obs. rare.
a. 1625. Fletcher, Noble Gent., III. i. I was not born, I take it, for a trencher, Nor to espouse my mistress’ dairy-maid.
2. One who cuts or digs trenches; one who trenches ground.
1871. Blackie, Four Phases, i. 83. The trencher of the moral soil, not the planter of the seed.
1875. W. Alexander, Sk. Life among Ain Folk, 188. A ‘tramp’ to save the sole of his boot while operating as trencher or drainer.
1875. trans. Comte de Paris’ Civ. War Amer., I. 397. All these works were executed by the soldiers, who showed themselves excellent trenchers.
