An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Truchseß

by Friedrich Kluge

Truchseß, m., ‘lord high-steward,’ from the equiv. MidHG. truh-, truht-sœȥe (-sœtze), OHG. truhsûȥȥo (zz). The MidLat. rendering, ‘dapifer, discophorus,’ shows that the word signified ‘he who serves the food.’ Yet MidHG. and OHG. truht is not used in the sense of ‘food’; it signifies ‘that which can be carried’ (a derivative of tragen), and might thus mean also ‘the food, served up.’ On account of MidHG. and OHG. truht, ‘crowd, troop,’ others with greater reason regard MidHG. truhsœȥe as ‘he who sits with the retainers (or at the head of the table), provides for their maintenance (hence dapifer) and assigns to them their places at table.’ The word is also found in LG. dialects; comp. LG. Drostei, ‘district of a Droste’ (high bailiff; MidDu. drossâte); Du. drossaard, ‘high bailiff.’