trawl

[ trawl ]

noun

1. Also called trawl net. a strong fishing net for dragging along the sea bottom.
2. Also called trawl line. a buoyed line used in sea fishing, having numerous short lines with baited hooks attached at intervals.

verb (used without object)

1. to fish with a net that drags along the sea bottom to catch the fish living there.
2. to fish with a trawl line.
3. to troll.

verb (used with object)

1. to catch with a trawl net or a trawl line.
2. to drag (a trawl net).
3. to troll.

trawl

/ trɔːl /

noun

1. Also calledtrawl net a large net, usually in the shape of a sock or bag, drawn at deep levels behind special boats (trawlers)
2. Also calledtrawl line a long line to which numerous shorter hooked lines are attached, suspended between buoys See also setline trotline
3. the act of trawling

verb

1. sea fishing to catch or try to catch (fish) with a trawl net or trawl line
2. sea fishing tr to drag (a trawl net) or suspend (a trawl line)
3. intrfoll byfor to seek or gather (something, such as information, or someone, such as a likely appointee) from a wide variety of sources

noun

1. angling another word for troll 1

Other Words From

• trawla·ble adjective
• trawla·bili·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of trawl¹

1475–85; < Middle Dutch tragel (noun), tragelen (v.); cognate with trail

Word History and Origins

Origin of trawl¹

C17: from Middle Dutch traghelen to drag, from Latin trāgula dragnet; see trail

Example Sentences

Just as humans have industrialized farming with large, AI-powered tractors and sprawling monocultures, we’ve also figured out how to harvest massive quantities of fish with large nets, trawls, and dredges.

From Vox

Every accessible square meter of the North Sea was being hit approximately twice per year by a trawl.

From Nautilus

Why, I offered to thrash him and his two boys only three weeks ago, for hanging around after dark where I had a trawl set.

From Project Gutenberg

Indeed, the pelicans enclosed the fish with their united wings in a regular line as close and compact as a trawl or drag-net.

From Project Gutenberg

There is some ship-building, some brewing, with oyster and trawl fishing; the fishery engages nearly seven hundred persons.

From Project Gutenberg

Five soundings were taken, and, on July 9, the trawl was put over in three hundred and forty-five fathoms.

From Project Gutenberg

We had been driving before a light westerly wind, when the trawl caught on the bottom and stopped the vessel.

From Project Gutenberg