Etymology Map
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Trunk

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means the main stem of a tree; a storage box

Where does the word "trunk" come from? It comes from Latin truncus, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
truncus
Latin · ancient
"trunk, torso"
the root of 'truncate'
2
Stage 2 of 3
tronc
Old French · medieval
"trunk, torso"
a tree trunk
3
Stage 3 of 3
trunk
English · 1400s
"tree trunk"
an elephant's 'trunk' and the car 'trunk' came later
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Read the full story

Trunk’s story begins in Latin: truncus meant “trunk, torso.” The root of 'truncate'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as tronc. A tree trunk. It reached English by 1400s as trunk. An elephant's 'trunk' and the car 'trunk' came later. Today, trunk means the main stem of a tree; a storage box.