Definition of trench

The word "trench" has its origins in the Old French word "tranche," which is derived from the Latin "trans" meaning "across" and "hanc" meaning "hand." In the 14th century, the word "trench" referred to a long, narrow depression or excavation made by an outstretched hand or a tool. Over time, the meaning of the word expanded to include any long, narrow depression in the ground, such as a ditch or a canal. In the early 20th century, the term "trench" took on a new significance during World War I, when the British and French armies dug extensive networks of trenches to protect themselves from enemy fire. The trenches on the Western Front became a symbol of the brutal and stagnant nature of trench warfare, and the word "trench" has since been associated with prolonged and intense conflict.