How did the trunk get its name?

How did the trunk get its name?

• A. From a trunk used on ships
• B. From a heavy iron band
• C. Originally made from hollowed tree trunks
• D. Derived from the word trunk meaning box

Answer: (C)

The name comes from the object’s origin as a hollowed-out tree trunk used as a storage container. Early travelers and households used large logs emptied of their wood to create chests for clothing and goods, literally a trunk of a tree. As furniture designs evolved, these boxes kept the same name, even when made from other materials or reinforced with bands. The other ideas describe features or uses that came later or refer to different contexts, but they don’t explain where the term trunk originally came from.

The name comes from the object’s origin as a hollowed-out tree trunk used as a storage container. Early travelers and households used large logs emptied of their wood to create chests for clothing and goods, literally a trunk of a tree. As furniture designs evolved, these boxes kept the same name, even when made from other materials or reinforced with bands. The other ideas describe features or uses that came later or refer to different contexts, but they don’t explain where the term trunk originally came from.