By Dave Johnston

Several years ago I built a stretcher-like apparatus, which we at the SSO now use to carry the haggis during our ‘piping in the Haggis’ ceremony at our annual Burns Supper. For years people would tell me it’s called a trencher, or some would say no, it’s a “hod”. Apparently it’s neither.

The word trencher, which comes from Old French trancher - 'to cut', is a type of tableware, commonly used in medieval times. Originally a flat round of (usually stale) bread was used as a plate, upon which the food could be placed to eat. At the end of the meal, the trencher could be eaten with sauce, but could also be given as gifts to the poor …“let them eat trencher”.

Later the trencher evolved into a small plate of metal or wood, typically circular and completely flat, without the lip or raised edge of a plate. Trenchers of this type are still used, typically for serving food that does not involve liquid, for example, the cheeseboard.

The term "trencher" as it relates to Robert Burns, comes from his poem "Address to a Haggis," where he writes: "The groaning trencher there ye fill". The dish is "groaning" under the weight of the large haggis.

As for the “hod” it is a builder's V-shaped open trough mounted on a pole, used for carrying bricks and other building materials and is thought to be from Middle Dutch hodde; akin to the Middle High German word hotte or cradle. I suppose one could carry a haggis in a hod, but to my mind that would lower its esteem.

Most of the Burns suppers I have been involved with over the years have had their haggis placed on a silver platter, which is then placed on a stretcher-type conveyance. This is then carried at shoulder height, which I would assume makes the haggis more visible to the crowd and give it a sense of import. In my opinion this would be more akin to the litter, or palanquin, or sedan chair, all typically used by royalty, high-ranking officials, or the wealthy, and considered a sign of their high status.

In the end I guess it can be whatever we want to call it though for mine I’ll stick with a trencher as it is made of wood, and looks like a cheese board on posts, and Robbie himself refers to it in the poem!

The Trencher, the Hod the Palaquin and the haggis