The main woody stems of trees; also referring to large boxes or chests for storage, or men's swimming shorts.
From Old French 'tronc' meaning 'trunk of tree or body', from Latin 'truncus' meaning 'mutilated' or 'cut off'. The storage container sense emerged in the 14th century, while swimming trunks appeared in the early 20th century as beach attire evolved.
It's fascinating how 'trunks' connects trees, storage, and swimwear through the concept of a central, sturdy container. The elephant's trunk gets its name from the same root, as it was seen as the animal's 'main stem' extending from its body.
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