An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Truchseß
Truchseß, masculine, ‘lord high-steward,’ from the equivalent Middle High German truh-, truht-sœȥe (-sœtze), Old High German truhsûȥȥo (zz). The Middle Latin rendering, ‘dapifer, discophorus,’ shows that the word signified ‘he who serves the food.’ Yet Middle High German and Old High German 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 Middle High German and Old High German truht, ‘crowd, troop,’ others with greater reason regard Middle High German 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 Low German dialects; compare Low German Drostei, ‘district of a Droste’ (high bailiff; Middle Dutch drossâte); Dutch drossaard, ‘high bailiff.’