An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

To shorten by cutting off a part.
Math.: 1) To shorten a number by dropping a digit or digits; e.g. to shorten 3.438 to 3.4.
2) To remove portions of solids falling outside a set of symmetrically placed planes.

Etymology (EN): From L. truncatus “cut off,” p.p. of truncare “to maim, cut off,” from truncus “mutilated, cut off.”

Etymology (PE): Kol kardan “to cut off the end of; to dock a tail,” from kol “docked, short,” variants in a large number of dialects: kola, kalta, kel, kelma, koc, kall, kor, kul in Gilaki, Tâleši, Lori, Malâyeri, Hamedâni, Qâeni, and others, cf. Av. kaurvô- “bald, docked,” kaurvôduma- “with a bald tail,” kaurvôgaoša- “with bald ears;” cf. Gk. kol(os) “docked” (kolouros “dock-tailed;”
L. colurus) + kardan “to do, to make” (Mid.Pers. kardan, O.Pers./Av. kar- “to do, make, build,” Av. kərənaoiti “makes,” cf. Skt. kr- “to do, to make,” krnoti “makes,” karma “act, deed;” PIE base k^wer- “to do, to make”).