[trunk] n [ME tronke box, trunk, fr. MF tronc, fr. L truncus trunk, torso] (15c) 1 a: the main stem of a tree apart from limbs and roots--called also bole b (1): the human or animal body apart from the head and appendages: torso (2): the thorax of an insect c: the central part of anything; specif: the shaft of a column or pilaster
2. a (1): a large rigid piece of luggage used usu. for transporting clothing and personal effects (2): the luggage compartment of an automobile b (1): a superstructure over a ship's hatches usu. level with the poop deck (2): the part of the cabin of a boat projecting above the deck (3): the housing for a centerboard or rudder
3: proboscis; esp: the long muscular proboscis of the elephant
4. pl: men's shorts worn chiefly for sports
5. a: a usu. major channel or passage (as a chute or shaft) b: a circuit between two telephone exchanges for making connections between subscribers; broadly: a usu. electronic path over which information is transmitted (as between computer memories)
6. a: the principal channel of a tributary system "an arterial ~" "~ of a river" b: trunk line -- trunk.ful n