troll

¹

[ trohl ]

verb (used with object)

1. to fish for or in with a moving line, either working the line up or down with a rod as in fishing for pike, or trailing the line behind a slow-moving boat:

   In September, boat anglers were starting to troll the river for salmon.

2. to move (the line or bait) continuously through the water while fishing, as from a moving boat:

   As his outboard chugged past the island, he trolled his line out fifty or sixty feet behind.

3. to browse through (the internet, a collection, etc.) in search of something:

   She spends her downtime trolling websites for holiday deals.

4. Informal.
   1. to post inflammatory, inappropriate, controversial, or polarizing messages on (the internet) for the purpose of cultivating animosity, upsetting others, or provoking a response.
   2. to upset or provoke (others) by posting such messages.
   3. to make such provocative comments about (others) in public:

      The actress was trolled on late-night TV.

5. to sing or utter in a full, rolling voice:

   Troll the ancient Yuletide carol.

6. to sing in the manner of a round or catch.
7. Archaic. to cause to turn round and round; roll.
8. Obsolete. to hand around, as a bowl of liquor at table.

verb (used without object)

1. to fish by trolling:

   We spent the day trolling for muskies.

2. to browse through the internet, a collection, etc., in search of something:

   I trolled through my photos for hours to find the best shots of the two of us.

3. Informal.
   1. to post inflammatory, inappropriate, controversial, or polarizing messages online for the purpose of cultivating animosity, upsetting others, or provoking a response:

      He props up his fragile ego by trolling on game sites, putting everybody else down.

   2. to make such provocative comments in public.
4. Archaic. to sing with a full, rolling voice; give forth full, rolling tones.
5. Archaic. to be uttered or sounded in such tones.
6. Archaic. to roll; turn round and round.
7. Archaic. to move nimbly, as the tongue in speaking.

noun

1. the act of trolling for fish.
2. a lure used in trolling for fish.
3. the fishing line containing the lure and hook for use in trolling.
4. Informal.
   1. a person who posts inflammatory, inappropriate, controversial, or polarizing messages online for the purpose of cultivating animosity, upsetting others, or provoking a response.
   2. a person who makes such provocative comments in public.
5. Archaic. a song whose parts are sung in succession; a round.

troll

²

[ trohl ]

noun

1. (in Scandinavian folklore) any of a race of supernatural beings, sometimes conceived as giants and sometimes as dwarfs, inhabiting caves or subterranean dwellings.
2. Slang. a person who lives or sleeps in a park or under a viaduct or bridge, as a derelict or poor person.

troll

¹

/ trəʊl /

verb

1. angling
   1. to draw (a baited line, etc) through the water, often from a boat
   2. to fish (a stretch of water) by trolling
   3. to fish (for) by trolling
2. to roll or cause to roll
3. archaic.
   to sing (a refrain, chorus, etc) or (of a refrain, etc) to be sung in a loud hearty voice
4. informal.
   intr to walk or stroll
5. slang:homosexual.
   intr to stroll around looking for sexual partners; cruise
6. slang.
   intr computing to post deliberately inflammatory articles on an internet discussion board

noun

1. the act or an instance of trolling
2. angling a bait or lure used in trolling, such as a spinner
3. slang.
   computing a person who submits deliberately inflammatory articles to an internet discussion

troll

²

/ trəʊl /

noun

1. (in Scandinavian folklore) one of a class of supernatural creatures that dwell in caves or mountains and are depicted either as dwarfs or as giants

Derived Forms

• ˈtroller, noun

Other Words From

• troll·er noun
• un·trolled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of troll¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English trollen “to roll, stroll,” from Middle French troller “to run here and there, ramble,” from Middle High German trollen “to walk or run with short steps”; troll ¹defs 4, 11, 19 are influenced by troll ²( def )

Origin of troll²

First recorded in 1610–20; from Old Norse troll “demon, fiend”

Word History and Origins

Origin of troll¹

C14: from Old French troller to run about; related to Middle High German trollen to run with short steps

Origin of troll²

C19: from Old Norse: demon; related to Danish trold

Example Sentences

Right-wing troll battle cries meant to trigger perceived adversaries are, in effect, punchlines.

From Salon

Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello took to social media to troll those who hate they way they kiss, and the video the pop stars posted is rather spectacular.

From Los Angeles Times

Whoever wrote this no doubt thinks it's a cutesy troll, but what's striking is that it's more blunt than any other ad in its zero-sum mentality.

From Salon

Russian troll accounts successfully boosted that clip across social media platforms.

From Salon

Shah’s betrayal is part of what made Garcia’s relatively minor violation — setting up a troll account that few people were even aware of — so activating.

From Los Angeles Times