trunk hose

plural noun

ˈtrəŋk- How to pronounce trunk hose (audio)
: short full breeches reaching about halfway down the thigh that were worn chiefly in the late 16th and early 17th centuries

Word History

Etymology

probably from obsolete English trunk to truncate

First Known Use

1618, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of trunk hose was in 1618

Rhymes for trunk hose

See All Rhymes for trunk hose

Browse Nearby Words

trunk glacier
trunk hose
trunking
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Trunk hose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trunk%20hose. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

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