trencherman
/'trentʃəmən/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: - A person who eats and drinks excessively or with great appetite; someone devoted to consuming large quantities of food and drink.
Usage
The word "trencherman" is a somewhat old-fashioned or literary term. It is used to describe a person, typically a man, who is a hearty or voracious eater. It often carries a neutral or even slightly admiring connotation regarding one's capacity for food, rather than solely a negative judgment about gluttony. It is a countable noun.
Examples
- He was known throughout the village as a formidable trencherman, capable of finishing an entire roast by himself.
- Despite his slim build, he was a true trencherman at the annual feast.
- The banquet was designed to satisfy even the most dedicated trencherman.
Advanced Usage
- The term can be used in historical or humorous contexts to evoke an image of someone from a bygone era enjoying a large, rustic meal.
- While the "-man" suffix is traditional, in modern usage it can be applied to any person regardless of gender, though the feminine form "trencherwoman" is also occasionally used.
Variants and Related Words
- Trencherwoman (noun): A woman who is a hearty eater.
- Trencher (noun, historical): A wooden board or platter on which food was formerly served or carved. This is the root word, referring to the eating surface, from which "trencherman" derives.
Synonyms
- Glutton: A person who eats too much. (This has a stronger negative connotation of greed and overindulgence.)
- Gourmand: A person who enjoys eating and often eats too much. (This can imply a knowledgeable enjoyment of food, not just quantity.)
- Hearty eater: A more common, modern phrase with a similar neutral/positive meaning.
- Big eater: A simple, informal synonym.
Idioms and Related Phrases
- A good trencherman: This is a common collocation used to describe someone who eats well and with gusto.
- Example: The cook was pleased to see his guests were such good trenchermen.
Noun
- a person who is devoted to eating and drinking to excess