trencher

Trencher is a term with several related meanings in English. It can denote a person who digs trenches, such as a construction worker, engineer, or soldier who creates or maintains defensive or drainage works. It can also describe a trenching tool, a hand- or powered implement used to cut, loosen, and remove soil to form narrow channels for pipes, cables, or drainage. Hand trenchers typically have a long handle and a flat or scooped blade; powered trenchers are large machines used in landscaping, agriculture, and construction.

Historically, trencher also referred to a serving dish. In medieval Europe, a trencher was a thick slice of bread or a wooden plate used as a plate during a meal. Food was placed on the trencher, and the bread would absorb juices; trenchers could be eaten or given to the poor after the meal. The term appears in historical accounts and literature from the medieval period, reflecting its use as both a tool and a meal accessory.

Etymology and usage have a long-standing split in English. The word arises in historical sources in two senses—the digging instrument and the plate or bread-based serving item. In modern usage, the most common contemporary senses are a reference to trenching work in construction or land improvement and the historical or scholarly discussion of medieval dining practices.