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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Trin(s)ch, Tren(s)ch, n. Also: trin(s)che, trintch, tryn(s)ch, tryncht, trensche, trensh, trencht, tranch, trunche. [ME and e.m.E. trench, trenche (both Chaucer), OF trenche, tranche. Cf. also Trink n.]

1. A ditch along with the earthwork produced in the excavation, in particular cases, the ditch or the earthwork referred to separately, specif. used in military contexts as a defensive structure. Also coll.(a) 1512 Aberd. B. Rec. I 83.
That all thar gunnys, cartis of weir, targis, trinschis, fossis, be prouidit, graithit, maid, and furnist for weir to the resisting of our auld ennemeys of Ingland 1513 Aberd. B. Rec. I 87.
That all man duelland within this toune sal pas … to the linx, to devise thar bastailye and trinchis, and vthir fensabile wais, for defence of the towne 1513 Doug. x v 53.
Ascanyus … Besegyt is and closyt rownd abowt With wallys, fowcy and trynschis 1531 Bell. Boece I 23.
Fergus … slew … the wache of Britonis and nocht only braik thair trinschis [L. vallum irrupit], bot enterit fersly within thair tentis 1531 Bell. Boece I 34.
The kingis armis in quhilkis was ane scherand sword, with septoure crown and tressour, in maner of ane weirly trinsche [L. valli forma] 1531 Bell. Boece II 426.
Thay maid thair bastailyeis and trinscheis of fale and devat 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 249.
Our peonaris has wroucht our tryncht wythin ferty futtis to thair trinsche that is rycht befor that meid bastalȝe 1548 Treas. Acc. IX 186.
Certane chylder … that wrouchte ane haill nycht at the casting of the trinschis about Hadingtoun 1558-66 Knox I 121.
Thei lying without trinche or gabioun war exponed to the force of the hole ordinance of the said castell 1558-66 Knox II 65.
Ordour was taikin for confirmatioun of the seige; and sa the trynches war drawin als neir the toun, as thay gudlie mycht a1578 Pitsc. II 253/3.
The castell men come furth and tuik all the ledderis that war in thair trinchis and had thame to Edinburgh a1578 Pitsc. II 266/1.
The men of weir that war in Leith munted thair small ordinance vpone the trinchis of Leith for feir of Edinburgh 16… Fraser in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 218.
Ane ruinous tour surrounded with ane trintch of stone and earth 1648 Aberd. Council Lett. III 101.
[To] remember, concerning the incasting of the trinches(b) 1491 Treas. Acc. I 181.
To the werkmen that kest the trenschis 1531 Bell. Boece II 160.
The Scottis … serchit mony inginis to win the town; and finalie, thay brocht ane gret multitude of treis to fill the trenchis and fowsyis thairof 1533 Boece 49b.
King Fergus on the nycht invadit haistelie the camp of Britouns … [and] brak in oure the trensch 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 249.
The northt west trencht is condamnit all except the roum that an small peice lyis in 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 249.
Ther is v^c workmen to cum out of the gallions to cast this nycht in the trensche a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 110.
That the haill futemen sould lye still about the hous, in thair trenschis c1610 Melville Mem. 23.
[He] set down his camp without the town upon ane hiecht, and maid trenschees and deip foussies round about the same 1639 Spalding II App. 488.
We wer forcit to fill wp our trenshes with our awin handis ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. I 57.
Old ruined walles and trenshes, which the people, … affirme to have been built at such tyme as the Pictes wer maisters of Marre(c) 1571 Treas. Acc. XII 242.
Coft aucht dosaine of dowbill Danskin daillis to the truncheis and artailyerie foirsaid(d) c1590 Fowler II 101/11.
Nather was there forts environed nor compassed with barriers, tranches, nor fousseiscoll. 1596 Dalr. II 308/22.
The Scotis and Frenchemen spyet out al the munitione about the toune, trinch [L. praesidiis] and al

b. A trench for draining off water, a drainage-ditch. 1696 Donaldson Husbandry 21.
Marish ground … if it be so moist that it cannot be plowed, draining the water from it by trinches or ditches … will much help the growth of grass

c. A channel in a stretch of water. 1658 Nicolson Diurnals 24 Aug.
Boatts that did sitt in the Quhytcove tranch

2. The narrow flat shape produced by folding a length of cloth rather than rolling it. Cf. Trin(s)ch v. 4. 1631 Conv. Burghs III 327.
Anent reformatioun of the abuse croppin in of late in the plaiding through presenting of the same to mercat in rolles … to vse thair diligence for reforming of the said abuse in the said wair of plaiding and obtening of the same to be presented in … trinches and foldes