troll

troll

troll¹ [trōl]

vt.

[ME trollen, to roll, troll, wander, prob. < MFr troller < ? MHG trollen, to walk or run with short steps: see TROLL²]

1. to roll; revolve

2.

a) to sing the parts of (a round, catch, etc.) in succession

b) to sing lustily or in a full, rolling voice; chant merrily

3.

a) to trail (a lure, bait, etc.) through the water in fishing from a slowly moving boat

b) to fish in (a lake, etc.) by this method

vi.

1. Now Rare

a) to speak fast

b) to wag: said of the tongue

2. to sing in a round, catch, etc.

3.

a) to sing lustily or in a full, rolling voice

b) to be uttered in such a voice

4. to fish with a bait or lure trailed on a line behind a slowly moving boat

5. to roll, spin, or whirl

n.

1. a song having parts sung in succession; round

2.

a) the method of trolling in fishing

b) a lure, or a lure and line, used in trolling

troller

n.

troll² [trōl]

n.

[ON, prob. < * truzla < IE * dreu-, var. of base * drā-, to run > TRAP¹, MHG trollen, to run with short steps, Ger trolle, wench: readopted < Norw by 19th-c. antiquaries]

Scand. Folklore any of a race of supernatural beings, variously conceived of as giants or dwarfs, living underground or in caves