Trench
/trɛntʃ/noun
A long, narrow cut in the ground or a deep, narrow channel.
Did you know?The word traces back to a Germanic root meaning “to cut” or “cutting,” which is why it’s linked to the same ancient idea behind sharp, violent separation rather than digging alone.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*trinkaną
“to cut, clip, or prune”
Old English
OE
trencian
“to cut, slash, or trench”
Middle English
ME
trenche
“a ditch, cut, or incision in the ground”
14th Century
French
tranche
“a slice; a cutting piece”
Modern English
English
trench
“a long, narrow cut in the ground or a deep, narrow channel”