toll

noun (1)

\ˈtōl

Definition of toll

(Entry 1 of 5)

1 : a tax or fee paid for some liberty or privilege (as of passing over a highway or bridge)

2 : compensation for services rendered: such as

a : a charge for transportation

b : a charge for a long-distance telephone call

3 : a grievous or ruinous price inflation has taken its toll especially : cost in life or health the death toll from the hurricane

toll

verb (1)

tolled; tolling; tolls

Definition of toll (Entry 2 of 5)

intransitive verb

: to take or levy toll

transitive verb

1a : to exact part of as a toll

b : to take as toll

2 : to exact a toll from (someone)

toll

verb (2)

tolled; tolling; tolls

Definition of toll (Entry 3 of 5)

intransitive verb

: to sound with slow measured strokes the bell tolls solemnly

transitive verb

1 : to sound (a bell) by pulling the rope

2a : to give signal or announcement of the clock tolled each hour

b : to announce by tolling church bells tolled the death of the bishop

c : to call to or from a place or occasion bells tolled the congregation to church

toll

noun (2)

Definition of toll (Entry 4 of 5)

: the sound of a tolling bell

toll

verb (3)

\ˈtōl

variants: or tole

tolled or toled; tolling or toling

Definition of toll (Entry 5 of 5)

transitive verb

1 : allure, entice

2a : to entice (game) to approach

b : to attract (fish) with scattered bait

c : to lead or attract (domestic animals) to a desired point

First Known Use of toll

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Verb (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (3)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for toll

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English, from Vulgar Latin *tolonium, alteration of Late Latin telonium customhouse, from Greek tolōnion, from telōnēs collector of tolls, from telos tax, toll; perhaps akin to Greek tlēnai to bear

Verb (2)

Middle English, to pull, drag, toll (a bell), perhaps alteration of toilen to struggle — more at toil

Verb (3)

Middle English tollen, tolen; akin to Old English fortyllan to seduce

Noun

Old English, tax or fee paid for a liberty or privilege, ultimately from Late Latin telonium custom house, from Greek tolōnion, from telōnēs collector of tolls, from telos tax, toll

Verb

Anglo-French tollir toller to take away, make null, bar, ultimately from Latin tollere to lift up, take away

Keep scrolling for more