trunk

English

/tɹʌŋk/, /tɹʌŋk/

noun
Definitions
  • (heading) Part of a body.
  • (heading) A container.
  • (heading) A channel for flow of some kind.
  • (software engineering) In software projects under source control: the most current source tree, from which the latest unstable builds (so-called "trunk builds") are compiled.
  • The main line or body of anything.
  • A large pipe forming the piston rod of a steam engine, of sufficient diameter to allow one end of the connecting rod to be attached to the crank, and the other end to pass within the pipe directly to the piston, thus making the engine more compact.
  • Shorts used for swimming (swim trunks).

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English tronke derived from Old French tronc (alms box, tree trunk, headless body, trunk) derived from Latin truncus (trunk, a stock, lopped tree trunk).

Origin

Latin

truncus

Gloss

trunk, a stock, lopped tree trunk

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms