tränken

Tränken is a German word with several related meanings that revolve around the idea of providing a drink. In everyday use, two main senses prevail: a drinking place for animals (the watering trough) and a beverage or potion (historical or fantastical). The plural form Tränken is commonly used when referring to multiple such drinking places, while Tränke as the singular noun denotes a single drink or potion in other contexts.

In agriculture and animal husbandry, a Tränke refers to a trough or waterer that provides drinking water to livestock. These can be simple fixed troughs made of stone or metal, or modern systems with valves and automatic dispensers. Properly designed and maintained Tränken help ensure animal welfare by providing clean, accessible water and reducing the risk of dehydration or contamination.

In historical and literary contexts, Tränke denotes potions or elixirs—drinks prepared for healing, fortification, or magical effects. In fantasy literature, a Tränke is often a crafted liquid with special properties. The term can appear in plural as Tränken when speaking of several potions, or in the singular Tränke to refer to a single draught or to the category of such beverages in general.

Etymology and related terms: Tränken derives from the verb trinken (to drink) and is linked to older Germanic forms in Old High German and Middle High German. The word is related to other terms for drink and draught in German, such as Trank and related compounds.