New Word Monday: TRONCMASTER
So researching a note on credit crunch etiquette, the question arose: can tips could towards the minimum wage in the UK. Which led to this page on DirectGov (which – if you want to know the answer – is sort of). Which then led to this paragrapgh:
Sometimes tips are pooled and then shared out between all the staff. This is known as a tronc and the person who shares out the tips is called a ‘troncmaster’.
When the tips are shared out, the troncmaster has to deduct Income Tax from them through PAYE.
TRONCMASTER! How long have I lived without knowing this word. Its such a great word that part of me is wary to look up is origin (but tronc seems to be some sort of abbreviation – but of what).
Pete Baran in FT • 1,565 views
It comes from the French “tronc des pauvres” – poor box or alms box.
My initial thought was it was from French, but more to do with ‘tranche’. I am a wrong though.
re 1 I picture a Gallic financier saying in his best Clouseauesque accent: ‘Put zer monnay ovver zerre – in ze tronc’