subs. (old).—1. A blockhead, a dunce (BLOUNT, 1656).
2. (common).—In pl. = trunk-hose: cf. SMALLS, TOTS, TIGHTS, etc. Also (modern) = (1) breeches: see KICKS, and (2) = bathing-drawers.
1613. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, The Captain, iii. 3.
| And swore he look’d, in his old velvet TRUNKS | |
| And his slic’d Spanish jerkin, like Don John? |
1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, III. 120. Red striped cotton stockings, with full TRUNKS dotted red and black.
3. (old).—A nose (B. E. and GROSE). ‘How’s your old TRUNK?’ = a jeer at a big-nosed man; TO SHOVE A TRUNK = to poke one’s nose in, ‘to introduce oneself unasked into any place or company’ (GROSE).
