Rumpf

Rumpf is a German noun with several related meanings and uses. In anatomy, it denotes the trunk or torso of a human or animal—the central part of the body that includes the chest and abdomen, excluding the head, limbs, and tail. The term is common in medical, biomechanical, and sport contexts when referring to core stability, movement, or structure.

In nautical and aviation terminology, Rumpf refers to the main body of a vessel or aircraft. For ships, this means the hull; for airplanes, the fuselage. In these domains, Rumpf contrasts with appendages such as masts, sails, wings, or engines.

Rumpf is also a German surname. It appears in genealogical and historical records in German-speaking regions and elsewhere through migration. As a surname, it may have originated from a descriptive or topographic source related to the body or main form of something, though precise etymologies can vary by family.

The word also occurs in compound expressions that denote the remaining or central part of something, such as a rump party (Rumpfpartei) or the residual portion of a structure after partial destruction. In translation, Rumpf is usually rendered as trunk or torso in anatomical contexts, and as hull or fuselage in nautical or aerospace contexts, depending on the subject.