Forms: see TRUNCHEON sb. [a. F. tronçonner (12th c. in Godef.), f. tronçon, TRUNCHEON sb.]
† 1. trans. To reduce to ‘truncheons’ or fragments; to break in pieces; to shatter. Also fig.
c. 1477. Caxton, Jason, 16. Thus began the bataylle … with speris that sone were tronchoned. Ibid., 35 b. She fill doune … alle thurghe smyten and tronchoned with amerouse sorowe.
c. 1500. Melusine, xxxvi. 286. The Saudan valyauntly smote geffray, & tronchoned hys spere vpon his shild.
† b. spec. To carve (an eel): the proper term for this. Cf. TRANCH v. Obs.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, F vij b. An Ele trounsoned.
1787. Best, Angling (ed. 2), 169. Trounchen an eel, cut him up.
1853. Badham, Halieut., 343. He gobbets trout, truncheons eel, fins chub, tusks barbel [etc.].
2. To beat with a truncheon, to baton.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., II. iv. 154. If captaines were of my minde, they would trunchion you out, for taking their names vpon you.
1839. Morn. Herald, 20 July. They are occasionally truncheoned by the police.
Hence Truncheoning vbl. sb.
c. 1477. Caxton, Jason, 15 b. Whan hit cam to the tronchoning of their speris.
