Contextualizebeta

troll

noun
/tɹɒl/UK/tɹɑl/US

Etymology

The verb is derived from Middle English trollen (“to go about, wander; to move (something) to and fro, rock; to roll; to turn”) [and other forms], of uncertain origin; perhaps in part from Old French troller (“to run here and there; to walk aimlessly, ramble, stroll; (hunting) to wander about looking for game”) (modern French troller); further etymology uncertain, yet probably from or related to Middle High German trollen (“to stroll, walk with short strides”) (modern German trollen (“to move slowly, trundle; to push off, toddle off”)), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *truzlōną (“to lumber”), which is probably related to *trudaną (“to step on, tread”) (see further at etymology 1). Doublet of trull. Verb etymology 2, verb sense 4.2.2 (“to fish using a line and bait or lures trailed behind a boat”) is possibly influenced by trail and/or trawl. The noun is probably derived from the verb. Noun etymology 2, noun sense 4 (“person who makes or posts inflammatory or insincere statements in an attempt to lure others into combative argument”) is possibly influenced by troll (etymology 1). Cognates * Middle Low German drullen (“to stroll”) (Low German trullen (“to troll”))

  1. derived from trǫll
  2. borrowed from trold
  3. borrowed from troll
  4. borrowed from troll
  5. derived from *truzlą✻ — “supernatural being; demon, fiend; giant; monster”
  6. derived from trǫll — “conjurer, mage; witch”
  7. inherited from trol — “demon (?); sorcerer (?)”

Definitions

  1. a giant supernatural being, especially a grotesque humanoid creature living in caves or…

    a giant supernatural being, especially a grotesque humanoid creature living in caves or hills or under bridges.

    • He followed their advice, and rode through a rye-field, where the Trolls were unable to follow him, but in their exasperation cried after him, "The red cock shall crow over thy dwelling." And behold! his house stood in a blaze.

  2. An ugly or unpleasant person.

    • In this work, the abject object—a sculpture of a fat, hairy woman—is heartbreakingly comforted by a text that claims the artist's love and desire to protect the 'ugly' troll.

  3. An optical ejection from the top of the electrically active core region of a thunderstorm…

    An optical ejection from the top of the electrically active core region of a thunderstorm that is red in colour and seems to occur after tendrils of vigorous sprites extend downward towards cloudtops.

  4. ›+ 18 more definitions

    1. A Michigander who lives on the mainland, i.e. not a resident of the Upper Peninsula, so…

      A Michigander who lives on the mainland, i.e. not a resident of the Upper Peninsula, so named due to living south of the Mackinaw Bridge.

      • People from the Upper Peninsula—the UP, or the Yoop—some-times call citizens of northern Michigan trolls, because they live “below the bridge.”

    2. Senses relating to a rolling motion.

      • Take trustie (to trust to) that thinkest to thee, / That trustily thriftines trowleth to thee.
      • [T]o trovvle in the caſh throughout all nations chriſtendome there is no fellovve to the red herring.
      • She fancied these Elysian shades / The sweetest place for masquerades: / How pleasant on the banks of Styx, / To troll it in a coach and six!

    3. Senses relating to the motion of passing around.

      • [Caliban] Thou mak'ſt me merry: I am full of pleaſure, Let vs be iocond. VVill you troule the Catch You taught me but vvhileare?
      • His Sonnets charm'd the attentive Crowd, / By wide-mouth'd Mortal troul'd aloud; […]
      • [S]he vvould be more vvelcome to thee than a Reprieve vvould, if thou vvert juſt novv trolling out Hopkins and Sternhold upon a Ladder.

    4. Senses relating to a light, quick motion.

      • VVhat does hee elſe but cant? Or if he runne / To his Iudiciall Aſtrologie, / And trovvle the Trine, the Quartile and the Sextile, / […] / Does not he cant? VVho here does vnderſtand him?
      • But they [people from Pisa] speak well out, trolling the words clearly over the tongue.

    5. Senses relating to fishing.

      • Chearful at morn he vvakes from ſhort repoſe, / Breaſts the keen air, and carrols as he goes; / VVith patient angle trolls the finny deep, / Or drives his vent'rous plovv-ſhare to the ſteep.

    6. Senses relating to "fishing" for a reaction.

      • Don't pay attention to that guy, he's always trolling this board.
      • When an argument gets heated, it can often be difficult to figure out who's serious and who's just trolling.
      • I trolled, and no one bit! [title]

    7. An act of moving round

      An act of moving round; a repetition, a routine.

    8. An act of fishing by using a running fishing line, or by trailing a line with bait or…

      An act of fishing by using a running fishing line, or by trailing a line with bait or lures behind a boat.

    9. A fishing line, bait, or lure used to fish in these ways.

    10. An inflammatory or insincere statement posted in an attempt to lure others into combative…

      An inflammatory or insincere statement posted in an attempt to lure others into combative argument (a flame war), originally a way for regulars (long-time users) to poke light-hearted fun at new posters (especially in Usenet newsgroups) and promote in-group cohesion ("trolling for newbies").

    11. A person who makes or posts inflammatory or insincere statements in an attempt to lure…

      A person who makes or posts inflammatory or insincere statements in an attempt to lure others into combative argument for purposes of personal entertainment or to manipulate their perception, especially in an online community or discussion.

      • Katie Hopkins: My Fat Story 9pm, TLC The professional troll and one-time Apprentice stirrer piles on the pounds in order to shed them in this two-part doc, which feels at times like an overly long This Morning item.

    12. A person who sows discord, or spreads misinformation or propaganda, in order to promote…

      A person who sows discord, or spreads misinformation or propaganda, in order to promote an agenda as part of an organized political campaign.

      • Social media accounts tied to a group of Russian trolls are amplifying claims of election fraud, according to researchers at the Election Integrity Partnership, a coalition of misinformation experts.

    13. A company, person, etc., that owns and legally enforces copyrights, patents, trademarks,…

      A company, person, etc., that owns and legally enforces copyrights, patents, trademarks, or other intellectual property rights in an aggressive and opportunistic manner, often with no intention of commercially exploiting the subjects of the rights.

    14. A song the parts of which are sung in succession

      A song the parts of which are sung in succession; a catch, a round.

      • At the opening of every club night he is called in to sing his "Confession of Faith," which is the famous old drinking trowl from Gammer Gurton's needle.
      • And thence the catch and troll, while "laughter, holding both his sides" sheds tears to song and ballad pathetic on the woes of married life, and all the ills that "our flesh is heir to."

    15. A small wheel

      A small wheel; specifically (fishing), the reel or winch of a fishing line.

    16. A trolley.

    17. Obsolete form of trull (“a harlot”).

    18. a native or resident of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for troll. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA