Middle English Dictionary Entry
trunk(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | trunk(e n. Also tronke. |
| Etymology | AF trunk(e, tronke (vars. of OF tronc) & L truncus, ML troncus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The main stem of a tree considered apart from its roots and branches, trunk; (b) a lifeless human body, corpse, specif. a mutilated or dismembered body; (c) her. the representation of an animal's head shown from the front without any portion of the body, a caboshed beast.
Associated quotations
a
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)2.251 : Graffe hem..In whit thorn..In tronke or rynde.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.367 : With Iuce of portulake & titymalle Euenly myxt, er than the budde out sprynge, Enoynte the trunkes of thys trees alle, And many foold of fruyt vp wol they brynge.
b
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.1344 : Vpon a boord he was leid along, His feet smet of & his hondes tweyne..Alisaundre..Dede kutte his lippis..His nose-thrillis, his eres eek also, And with the bodi he badde men sholde go..To shewe the trunke, how it was dismembrid.
c
- 1486 ?Berners Bk.St.Albans (Blades 1881)her.leaf b v/a : Tronkys be calde in armys any bestys hede on neck Ikytt chagikli [read: jaggedly] a sonder.
2.
(a) A storage chest, coffer, trunk; ~ hors, a horse used for carrying trunks; ~ sadel, a packsaddle adapted for carrying a trunk; (b) a submerged box in which live fish are kept, a fish trap.
Associated quotations
a
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)86/9 : See ye on of yonde coffyrs and trunkes, that be full of gold and syluer.
- (1462) Acc.Howard in RC 57150 : Item, payd ffor a new tronke ffor my lord whych was delyvared to Willyam off Wardrope.
- (1463) Acc.Howard in RC 57232 : Item, payd for iij. hors, the tronke hors, and Janenys, and for Brameys hors..v.d.
- (1464) Acc.Howard in RC 57266 : For mendynge of the tronke sadylle, x d.
b
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)504 : Trunke, for kepynge of fysche: Gurgustium.
- (1450-51) Acc.Abingdon in Camd.n.s.51130 : In factura vnius tronke pro piscibus custodiendis, iij d.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)131a : A Tronke: gustum.
- a1500 PFulham (Jas 43)39 : To breke trunkes also these theves vse: The sely fysche can hym selfe not excusse, when yt ys spyttyd lyke a sprote.
3.
As surname.
Associated quotations
- (1319) Pat.R.Edw.II366 : Margaret Trunk.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. trunk.