ˈtrencher-man
[f. as prec. + man n.1]
† 1. A cook or caterer. Obs. rare.
| a 1586 Sidney Arcadia i. iv. (1912) 29 He had alreadie bene more fed to his liking, then hee could bee by the skilfullest trencher-men of Media. |
2. A feeder; an eater; usually qualified, as good, stout, valiant, etc., one who plays a good knife and fork; one who has a hearty appetite.
| 1590 Greene Never too Late Wks. (Grosart) VIII. 199 Mullidor tried himselfe so tall a trencher man, that his mother perceiued by his drift he would not die for loue. 1596 Shakes. Much Ado i. i. 51 He's a very valiant Trencher⁓man, hee hath an excellent stomacke. 1663 Davenant Siege ii. i, You Are a rare Trencher-man. 1694 Motteux Rabelais v. Prol., Dry and hungry Souls, Pot and Trenchermen. 1805 Sporting Mag. XXVI. 52 One or two distinguished trencher-men. 1880 R. S. Watson Vis. Wazan xii. 226 As much as would serve a valiant trencher-man in England for half a week. |
3. One who frequents a patron's table; a parasite, dependent, hanger-on.
| 1599 Nashe Lenten Stuffe Ep. Ded., A dismall world for trenchermen, when theyr maisters bond shal not be so good as theirs. 1643 Wither Campo Musæ 40 By these virtues, from a trencher-man A Princes Minion, riseth, now and than. 1849 Thackeray Pendennis xx, Everybody knew old Pen, regular old trencher-man at Gaunt House, notorious old bore, regular old fogey. |
So ˈtrencher-ˌwoman.
| 1891 T. Hardy Tess xxxiv, To be sure, 'a was always a good trencher-woman, as her face showed. |