noun

1. the main stem of a tree
2. the body of a human being or animal, not including the head and limbs
3. the thorax of an insect
4. the main body or stem of a nerve, blood vessel, etc., as distinguished from its branches
5. a long, flexible snout or proboscis, as of an elephant
6. a large, reinforced box or chest, used in traveling or for storage, as to hold clothing and personal effects
7. a large, long, boxlike pipe, shaft, etc. for conveying air, water, etc.
8. trunk hose
9. ☆ shorts worn by men for athletics, esp. for boxing or swimming
10. ☆ trunk line
11. ☆ a compartment in an automobile, usually in the rear, for holding a spare tire, luggage, etc.
12. Archit. the shaft of a column
13. Naut.
    1. the part of a cabin above the upper deck
    2. a boxlike or funnel-like casing, as for a centerboard or for connecting upper and lower hatches

Etymology: ME tronke < OFr tronc < L truncus, a stem, trunk < truncus, maimed, mutilated < IE *tronkus < base *trenk-, to press together, crowd > throng