TRUNK, noun [Latin truncus, from trunco, to cut off.

1. The stem or body of a tree, severed form its roots. This is the proper sense of the word. But surprising as it may seem, it is used most improperly to signify the stem of a standing tree or vegetable, in general.

2. The body of an animal without the limbs.

3. The main body of any thing; as the trunk of a vein or of an artery, as distinct from the branches.

4. The snout or proboscis of an elephant; the limb or instrument with which he feeds himself.

5. A slender, oblong, hollow body, joined to the fore part of the head of many insects by means of which they suck the blood of animals or the juices of vegetables.

6. In architecture, the fust or shaft of a column.

7. A long tube through which pellets of clay are blown.

8. A box or chest covered with skin.

Fire-trunks, in fire ships, wooden funnels fixed under the shrouds to convey or lead the flames to the masts and rigging.

TRUNK, verb transitive To lop off; to curtail; to truncate. [Not in use.]