\Trunk\, n. [F. tronc, L. truncus, fr. truncus maimed,
mutilated; perhaps akin to torquere to twist wrench, and E.
torture. Trunk in the sense of proboscis is fr. F. trompe
(the same word as trompe a trumpet), but has been confused in
English with trunk the stem of a tree (see {Trump} a
trumpet). Cf. {Truncate}.]
1. The stem, or body, of a tree, apart from its limbs and
   roots; the main stem, without the branches; stock; stalk.
         About the mossy trunk I wound me soon, For, high
         from ground, the branches would require Thy utmost
         reach.                                --Milton.
2. The body of an animal, apart from the head and limbs.
3. The main body of anything; as, the trunk of a vein or of
   an artery, as distinct from the branches.
4. (Arch) That part of a pilaster which is between the base
   and the capital, corresponding to the shaft of a column.
5. (Zo["o]l.) That segment of the body of an insect which is
   between the head and abdomen, and bears the wings and
   legs; the thorax; the truncus.
6. (Zo["o]l.)
   (a) The proboscis of an elephant.
   (b) The proboscis of an insect.
7. A long tube through which pellets of clay, p?as, etc., are
   driven by the force of the breath.
         He shot sugarplums them out of a trunk. --Howell.
8. A box or chest usually covered with leather, metal, or
   cloth, or sometimes made of leather, hide, or metal, for
   containing clothes or other goods; especially, one used to
   convey the effects of a traveler.
         Locked up in chests and trunks.       --Shak.
9. (Mining) A flume or sluice in which ores are separated
   from the slimes in which they are contained.
10. (Steam Engine) 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.
11. A long, large box, pipe, or conductor, made of plank or
    metal plates, for various uses, as for conveying air to a
    mine or to a furnace, water to a mill, grain to an
    elevator, etc.
{Trunk engine}, a marine engine, the piston rod of which is a
   trunk. See {Trunk}, 10.
{Trunk hose}, large breeches formerly worn, reaching to the
   knees.
{Trunk line}, the main line of a railway, canal, or route of
   conveyance.
{Trunk turtle} (Zo["o]l.), the leatherback.

\Trunk\, v. t. [Cf. F. tronquer. See {Truncate}.]
1. To lop off; to curtail; to truncate; to maim. [Obs.] ``Out
   of the trunked stock.'' --Spenser.
2. (Mining) To extract (ores) from the slimes in which they
   are contained, by means of a trunk. See {Trunk}, n., 9.
   --Weale.