Originally Posted By: BranShea
Yes, I think the trenches are dug to see who gets most of the tranches.

trench c.1386, "track cut through a wood," later "long, narrow ditch" (1489), from O.Fr. trenche "a slice, ditch" (1288), from trenchier "to cut," possibly from V.L. *trincare, from L. truncare "to cut or lop off"

tranche(AWAD)
MEANING:noun: A portion, especially of money, investment, etc.
ETYMOLOGY:From French tranche (slice), from trancher (to cut).


It has been nearly a century & a half since trenches were dug in America -- not nearly as long for the lands of Europe -- but there are even older trenches which were dug not with shovels or trenching tools, but with wagon wheels. The Natchez Trace might be the most well-known; but there are traces & pikes from the 18th & 19th Century all over the USA. &, interestingly these trenches were also cut for tranches. Some portions of the Trace have been preserved in Mississippi & in places are as much as 15 or 20 feet below the surrounding terrain. Surely there are similar tracks in Europe & others in the world.

In Randolph County, Illinois, where I grew up, there is a preserved early 19th Century Covered Bridge that was part of such a trace that was only about 15 miles in length. Little of the trace remains because the way was laid with "planks" (halved logs) for the most part. It connected the Shawnee Trail to the Mississippi River at the County Seat.

Last edited by PastorVon; 04/16/09 03:42 PM. Reason: added 2nd paragraph