sb. Hist. Also 6 -mour, -moore, 7 -moor. [Origin uncertain. Perhaps a place- or family-name.] An old English country dance, of a lively or boisterous nature; also, the air to which it was danced.
1551–2. in Feuillerat, Revels Edw. VI. (1914), 79. Thre garmentes of sarsenett … for them that daunsed trenchemore.
1579. Gosson, Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 33. Paris led the shaking of sheetes with Domitia, and Mnester [led] the Trenchmour, with Messalina.
1597. Deloney, Gentle Craft (1912), 154. Like one dancing the trench more he stampt up and downe the yard, holding his hips in his hands.
1611. L. Barry, Ram Alley, III. i. Ile make him daunce a trenchmoor to my sword.
a. 1654. Selden, Table-T., King of Engl. (1689), 28. In King Charles’s time, there has been nothing but Trench-more [mispr. Fr—] and the Cushion Dance, omnium gatherum, tolly, polly, hoite come toite.
1776. Sir J. Hawkins, Hist. Mus., IV. IV. i. 392. In the … Rehearsal, the Earth, Sun, and Moon are made to dance the Hey to the tune of Trenchmore.
† b. quasi-adv. In a frisky, lively, or boisterous manner. Obs.
1577. Stanyhurst, Descr. Irel., in Holinshed, II. 16/1. They beeset a diuine as well, as for … an ape to strike trenchmoore in a paire of buskins and a doublet.’
1605. Lond. Prodigal, I. ii. I’ faith and thy tongue trips trenchmore.
1636. W. Sampson, Vow-Breaker, II. i. D ij b. We had a Wedding to day, and the young fry tickle trench-more.
Hence Trenchmore v. nonce-wd., intr. to dance the trenchmore.
1598. Marston, Pygmal., ii. 145. He doth curtsie, and … Trenchmore with Apes, play musick to an Owle.
