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

The fishing practices, including trawling and the use of gill and seine nets, were shown to cause physical pressures such as abrasion, smothering, siltation and total habitat loss.

From Science Daily

After trawling the national archives and cross referencing eye-witness accounts, family letters and war office reports, Ms Nash was able to identify these men as Sergeant Northey and Major Patrick Angier.

From BBC

After the authorities trawled through her phone, another friend was arrested - and Kim was charged with drug trafficking.

From BBC

Restrictions on scallop dredging and prawn trawling required additional legislation which ministers promised to introduce in two stages.

From BBC

In one glaring recent example, the advocacy group Oceana U.K. found evidence that the United Kingdom allows bottom trawling in many of its MPAs.

From Salon