trunk line

noun

1. a major long-distance transportation line.
2. trunk ( def 8 ).

trunk line

noun

1. a direct link between two telephone exchanges or switchboards that are a considerable distance apart
2. the main route or routes on a railway

Word History and Origins

Origin of trunk line¹

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

In the fifties plans had been made for a main trunk line to run from Halifax to the Detroit River.

From Project Gutenberg

At Vicenza the highroad is joined by another trunk-line from Padua, 32 kilometres to the southwest.

From Project Gutenberg

A second later he was speaking with the man who had actually witnessed the cutting of the trunk line.

From Project Gutenberg

Even as late as 1882, over four-fifths of the eastbound trunk line traffic originated not further west than Illinois.

From Project Gutenberg

In 1876 the first attempt at a systematic scheme of rate adjustment between competing localities was made in trunk line territory.

From Project Gutenberg