The first meaning is old-fashioned and rarely used in modern English conversations or writings. The museum displayed a trencher from the medieval feast.
Pro Tip 2/3
Historical Context
Knowing 'trencher' as a serving plate can help understand older literature or historical texts. In the painting, a trencher was laid out with fruits and cheese.
Pro Tip 3/3
Cultural Depiction
Recognize 'trencher' in cultural depictions of medieval or Renaissance feasts in films or reenactments. Actors at the fair ate from trenchers to show how people dined in the past.