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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.

(Trinsch,) Trynch, Trench(e, v. P.p. also trinchett, trynschit, treinched. [e.m.E. trench (Caxton), OF trenchier, F. trancher.]

1. a. intr. To cut or carve meat. b. tr. To cut in pieces, slice up (meat). c. To notch, cut a notch in (something).a. 1494 Loutfut MS 123a.
[The knights] haff thair table to thair estait be thaim self and sittis all on a sid and thair squyeris trynchant before thaimb. 1513 Doug. iv xi 35.
And eik ȝone sam Ascanyus mycht I nocht Haue trynschit [Sm. trinschit] with a sword, and maid a meys To his fader tharof to eyt at deys?c. 1687 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XXVII 144.
[I considered] the way of trenching bows with virginall weire. I gott a peice of it and trencht my bow with it. It did verie well, but I found at lenth that it cutts the string

2. a. intr. To dig a trench, entrench oneself. b. tr. To surround or fortify (a place) with a trench.a. a1578 Pitsc. II 251/24.
Thai trinchit at Scoittis clos heid vnder the Nathir Bow a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1804) 231.
The pyoneris hade trinchett in the castell hill of Edinburgh, and erectit a braid sconce to hyde thameb. a1578 Pitsc. II 89/15.
The Frenchemen lap sa haistalie about the said castell and trinchit the samin round about, that they war all haistalie inclossit a1578 Pitsc. II 205/18.
The haill towne was trinschit and arteilȝerrie set one the calsayes and one the stipill

3. intr. To trench (up)on, to encroach or infringe upon (another person, their concerns, etc.). 1640 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 280.
Gif the petitioners will goe on in this supplicatione, [that] they shall doe the same in that quiet, humble way, which may not trench upon his majestie, bot will most readilie satisfie his majestie 1648 Laing MSS 236.
[They acknowledge their duty to assist the civil authority when its] determinatiouns doe not trenche upon nor tend to the prejudice of the liberties of the kingdome of Jesus Christ 1657 Balfour Ann. II 138.
Thir tuelffe artickells wer crushte in peices by the Lord Chanceler … and wthers whosse places they trinched one 1672 Douglas Corr. 271.
That nothing of their concernment may be trenched upon

4. tr. To fold or lay (cloth) in plies. 1629 Conv. Burghs III 283.
That the saids workers and selleris of the said plaiding be … stayed for presenting the same to the mercatt rolled vp, and that it be presented onlie treinched or layed in plyes or faldis quhairby the buyer may sie his commoditie and sufficiencie thairof