trenche

n. [ OE. trencheoir, F. tranchoir, fr. trancher to cut, carve. See Trench, v. t. ] 1. One who trenches; esp., one who cuts or digs ditches. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A large wooden plate or platter, as for table use. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The table; hence, the pleasures of the table; food. [ 1913 Webster ]

It could be no ordinary declension of nature that could bring some men, after an ingenuous education, to place their “summum bonum” upon their trenchers. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

Trencher cap, the cap worn by studens at Oxford and Cambridge Universities, having a stiff, flat, square appendage at top. A similar cap used in the United States is called Oxford cap, mortar board, etc. --
Trencher fly, a person who haunts the tables of others; a parasite. [ R. ] L'Estrange. --
Trencher friend, one who frequents the tables of others; a sponger. --
Trencher mate, a table companion; a parasite; a trencher fly. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]