Trencher (tableware) facts for kids
A trencher was a special kind of tableware used a long time ago, especially during the Middle Ages. Imagine a flat, round piece of bread, often a bit old or stale. People would put their food right on this bread instead of a regular plate! After the meal, if the bread was soaked with tasty sauces, you could eat it. Sometimes, the bread trenchers were even given to people in need.
Over time, trenchers changed. They became small, flat plates made of metal or wood. These plates were usually round and didn't have the raised edges that modern plates do. Today, you might still see trenchers used for serving food that isn't too saucy, like a cheeseboard.
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What is a Trencher?
The word "trencher" comes from an old French word, tranchier, which means "to cut". This makes sense because the first trenchers were often cut from a loaf of bread.
In the Middle Ages, people didn't have many plates like we do today. So, using a thick slice of bread was a clever way to hold their food. After the meal, the bread trencher, now full of flavors from the food, could be eaten. It was a way to make sure nothing went to waste!
Later, as people became wealthier, trenchers started to be made from more lasting materials like wood or metal. These wooden or metal trenchers were flat and simple. They were perfect for serving things like meat or cheese.
Trenchers in Language
Sometimes, you might hear the word "trencherman." This word describes someone who really loves to eat and has a big appetite. It's like saying someone is a very hearty eater!
Trenchers in Stories
Trenchers have appeared in many famous stories and books throughout history.
An Ancient Prophecy
In an old Roman poem called the Aeneid, there's a famous story about trenchers. The hero, Aeneas, was told a prophecy that he wouldn't be able to build his new city until he was so hungry that he "gnawed his very tables."
Much later, when Aeneas and his friends were eating a simple meal, they used flat bread as trenchers. After they finished their food, they were still hungry and started eating the bread trenchers. Aeneas's son joked that they were so hungry they would have eaten the tables! At that moment, Aeneas realized the prophecy had come true. He knew they were finally in the right place to build their city.
Shakespeare and Other Writers
The famous English writer William Shakespeare used the word "trencher" in many of his plays. This shows that trenchers were a common item in his time.
More recently, the author George R. R. Martin also mentions trenchers in his popular book series A Song of Ice and Fire. For example, in one book, a character is served stew in a "trencher hollowed out of a stale loaf." This helps readers imagine what meals were like in the fictional world he created.
Images for kids
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A modern cheeseboard
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See also
In Spanish: Tajador para niños
