trench
UK: trentʃ | US: trentʃ
n. a long, narrow ditch dug in the ground, typically for drainage or military defense
vt. to dig or cut a trench in the ground
vt. to fortify with trenches
The word "trench" originates from Old French trencher ("to cut"), which itself derives from Vulgar Latin trinicāre, a frequentative form of Latin truncāre ("to lop, cut off"). The connection to "cutting" is preserved in its modern meanings—whether digging a ditch (cutting into the earth) or military trenches (cut defensive lines). Over time, the term specialized in English to emphasize elongated, dug-out structures.
The soldiers dug a trench to protect themselves from enemy fire.
Farmers often trench their fields to improve drainage.
The archaeological team uncovered an ancient trench used for irrigation.
During WWI, trench warfare became a defining feature of the conflict.
The gardener trenched the soil to prepare for planting new shrubs.