troll
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /tɹɒl/
ipa: /tɹəʊl/
ipa: /tɹɑl/
ipa: /tɹoʊl/
rhymes: -ɒl
rhymes: -əʊl
Forms: form: trolls
form: trolling
form: trolled
form: trolled
form: no-table-tags
form: glossary
form: troll
form: troll
form: trolled
form: troll
form: trollest
form: trolled
form: trolledst
form: trolls
form: trolleth
form: trolled
form: troll
form: trolled
form: troll
form: trolled
form: troll
form: -
form: trolling
form: trolled
form: trowl
form: trowle
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 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 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”))
Senses: examples: text: Take trustie (to trust to) that thinkest to thee, / That trustily thriftines trowleth to thee.
ref: 1878, Thomas Tusser, “A Briefe Conclusion, where You may See, ech Word in the Verse, to Begin with a T”, in Five Hundred Pointes of Good Husbandrie. […], London: Published for the English Dialect Society by Trübner & Co., […], →OCLC; republished as W[illiam] Payne, Sidney J[ohn Hervon] Herrtage, editors, Five Hundred Pointes of Good Husbandrie. […], London: Published for the English Dialect Society by Trübner & Co., […], 1878, →OCLC, stanza 2, page 137:
text: [T]o trovvle in the caſh throughout all nations chriſtendome there is no fellovve to the red herring.
ref: 1599, [Thomas] Nashe, Nashes Lenten Stuffe, […], London: […] [Thomas Judson and Valentine Simmes] for N[icholas] L[ing] and C[uthbert] B[urby] […], →OCLC, page 26:
text: 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!
ref: 1730, Jonathan Swift, “Death and Daphne. To an Agreeable Young Lady, but Extremely Lean. […]”, in Thomas Sheridan, John Nichols, editors, The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, […], new edition, volume VIII, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1801, →OCLC, page 66:
text: […] I was wont to trowl down the nine-pins in the skittle-ground— […]
ref: 1822 May 29, [Walter Scott], chapter X, in The Fortunes of Nigel. […], volume II, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC, page 237:
text: My ancestors drummed for King Harry, / The Huguenot lad of Navarre. / And as each man in life has his station / According as Fortune may fix, / While Condé was waving the baton, / My grandsire was trolling the sticks.
ref: 1841, M. A. Titmarsh [pseudonym; William Makepeace Thackeray], “The Chronicle of the Drum. Part I.”, in The Second Funeral of Napoleon: […] And The Chronicle of the Drum. […], London: Hugh Cunningham, […], →OCLC, page 88:
glosses: Senses relating to a rolling motion.
To move (something, especially a round object) by, or as if by, rolling; to bowl, to roll, to trundle.
glosses: Senses relating to a rolling motion.
Often followed by in: to cause (something) to flow or roll in like a stream.
examples: text: Mrs Putler, this is Lady—Lady—these tamn'd Southern names rin out o' my head like a stane trowling down hill— […]
ref: 1818 July 25, Jedediah Cleishbotham [pseudonym; Walter Scott], chapter XIII, in Tales of My Landlord, Second Series, […] (The Heart of Mid-Lothian), volume IV, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Company, →OCLC, pages 274–275:
glosses: Senses relating to a rolling motion.
To roll; also, to turn round and round; to rotate, to spin, to whirl.
examples: text: Prepoſt'rous foole, thou troul'ſt amiſſe: / Thou err'ſt; That's not the vvay, 'Tis this: / Thy hopes, inſtructed by thine Eye, / Make thee appeare more neare than I; […]
ref: 1635, Fra[ncis] Quarles, “Canto XI. Mat[thew] VII. XIV.”, in Emblemes, London: […] G[eorge] M[iller] and sold at at Iohn Marriots shope […], →OCLC, book II, stanza 1, page 105:
glosses: Senses relating to a rolling motion.
To move or walk at a leisurely pace; to ramble, to saunter, to stroll.
glosses: Senses relating to a rolling motion.
Chiefly of a man: synonym of cruise (“to stroll about to find a (male) sexual partner”).
examples: text: This little ape gets money by the sack-full, / It trolls upon her.
ref: c. 1623 (date written; published 1653), Thomas Middleton, William Rowley, Thomas Dekker, John Ford, “The Spanish Gipsy”, in A[rthur] H[enry] Bullen, editor, The Works of Thomas Middleton […] (The English Dramatists), volume VI, London: John C. Nimmo […], published 1885, →OCLC, Act I, scene v, page 132:
glosses: Senses relating to a rolling motion.
Followed by in: to flow or roll in like a stream.
examples: text: [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?
ref: 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 12, column 2:
text: His Sonnets charm'd the attentive Crowd, / By wide-mouth'd Mortal troul'd aloud; […]
ref: 1663 (indicated as 1664), [Samuel Butler], “The Second Part of Hudibras. Canto III.”, in Hudibras. The First and Second Parts. […], London: […] John Martyn and Henry Herringman, […], published 1678, →OCLC; republished in A[lfred] R[ayney] Waller, editor, Hudibras: Written in the Time of the Late Wars, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: University Press, 1905, →OCLC, page 162:
text: [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.
ref: 1672, Thomas Shadwell, The Miser: A Comedy, […], London: […] Thomas Collins and John Ford, […], →OCLC, Act I, page 2:
text: But hark! our merry-men so gay / Troll forth another roundelay.
ref: 1813, Walter Scott, “Canto Third”, in Rokeby; a Poem, Edinburgh: […] [F]or John Ballantyne and Co. […]; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown; by James Ballantyne and Co., […], →OCLC, stanza XXVIII, page 143:
text: Good Snell, do thou a burthen try / Shall change our sadness into joy: / Such as thou trollest in blythe mood, / On days of sunshine in the wood.
ref: 1846, Thomas Cooper, “Canto II”, in The Baron’s Yule Feast: A Christmas-rhyme, London: Jeremiah How […], →OCLC, page 34:
text: Deck the hall with boughs of holly, / Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la! / 'Tis the season to be jolly: / Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la! / Fill the meadcup, drain the barrel, / Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la! / Troul the ancient Christmas carol. / Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
ref: 1862, Thomas Oliphant; John Thomas, arranger, “Nos Galan. New Year’s Eve. [no. 15]”, in Welsh Melodies, with Welsh and English Poetry […], volume II, London: Addison, Hollier, & Lucas, →OCLC, page 140:
text: For where could a handsome young scholar not be welcome when he could touch the lute and troll a gay song?
ref: 1862 July – 1863 August, George Eliot [pseudonym; Mary Ann Evans], “A Man’s Ransom”, in Romola. […], volume I, London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], published 1863, →OCLC, book I, page 160:
text: [T]here is not a man but has his pulses shaken when Pan trolls out a stave of ecstasy and sets the world a-singing.
ref: 1878, Robert Louis Stevenson, “Pan’s Pipes”, in Virginibus Puerisque and Other Papers, London: C[harles] Kegan Paul & Co., […], published 1881, →OCLC, page 283:
topics: entertainment
lifestyle
music
glosses: Senses relating to the motion of passing around.
To sing the parts of (a catch, round, or similar song) in succession; also (generally), to sing (a song) freely or in a carefree way, or loudly.
examples: text: And Tyb my wyfe, that as her lyfe / loueth well good ale to ſeeke, / Full ofte drynkes ſhee, tyll ye may ſee / the teares run downe her cheekes: / Then dooth ſhe trowle, to mee the bowle / euen as a mault worme shuld, / And ſayth ſweete hart, I took my part / of this ioly good ale and olde.
ref: c. 1553 (date written), “S.” [pseudonym; attributed to William Stevenson], […] Gammer Gurtons Nedle: […], London: […] Thomas Colwell, published 1575, →OCLC, Act II, scene i, signature B, verso:
text: Trowle the boll, the iolly Nut-browne boll, / And here kind mate to thee: / Let's ſing a dirge for Saint Hughes ſoule, / And downe it merrily.
ref: 1599 (first performance; published 1600), Thomas Dekker, “The Shomakers Holiday. Or The Gentle Craft. […]. The Second Three-mans Song.”, in The Dramatic Works of Thomas Dekker […], volume I, London: John Pearson […], published 1873, →OCLC, page 6:
text: Come, trowl the brown bowl to me, / Bully boy, bully boy, / Come, trowl the brown bowl to me: / Ho! jolly Jenkin, I spy a knave in drinking, / Come, trowl the brown bowl to me.
ref: 1819 December 20 (indicated as 1820), Walter Scott, chapter VI, in Ivanhoe; a Romance. […], volume II, Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co. […], →OCLC, page 88:
glosses: Senses relating to the motion of passing around.
To pass (something, specifically a bowl or other communal drinking vessel) from one person to another; to circulate, to send about.
glosses: Senses relating to the motion of passing around.
Of bells: to ring a sequence of tones in a resounding manner.
examples: text: The Greeks figured Pan, the god of Nature, now terribly stamping his foot, so that armies were dispersed; now by the woodside on a summer noon trolling on his pipe until he charmed the hearts of upland ploughmen.
ref: 1878, Robert Louis Stevenson, “Pan’s Pipes”, in Virginibus Puerisque and Other Papers, London: C[harles] Kegan Paul & Co., […], published 1881, →OCLC, pages 280–281:
text: [H]e trolled with ample lungs; and the sound of his voice took hold upon the hillside and set the air shaking in the leafy glens.
ref: 1879, Robert Louis Stevenson, “[Upper Gévaudan (continued).] A Night among the Pines.”, in Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes, 1st American edition, Boston, Mass.: Roberts Brothers, →OCLC, page 140:
text: [H]e opened his stall and spread his meat upon the bench, then, taking his cleaver and steel and clattering them together, he trolled aloud in merry tones:— […]
ref: 1883, Howard Pyle, “Robin Hood Turns Butcher”, in The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood […], New York, N.Y.: […] Charles Scribner’s Sons […], →OCLC, part second, page 49:
text: Here Challander trolleth from the crucified vine; / The Ring-dove moaneth, chattereth the Stare; / The snowy Culver fast from nest doth fare / The Throstle percheth high on olive-tine: […]
ref: 1884 October, Camoens [i.e., Luís de Camões], “[Canzons.] Canzon XVI. Por Meyo de Humas Serras Muy Fragosas, (a Country Piece: Imitation of Gaspar Gil Polo’s Rimas Provenzales).”, in Richard F[rancis] Burton, transl., The Lyricks. […], volume II, London: Bernard Quaritch, […], →OCLC, , stanza V, page 336:
topics: entertainment
lifestyle
music
glosses: Senses relating to the motion of passing around.
Of a person: to sing the parts of a catch, round, or similar song in succession; also (generally), to sing freely or in a carefree way, or loudly.
examples: text: I have had the moſt happy invention this morning, and a Tune trouling in my head; […]
ref: 1677 (date written), John Dryden, The Kind Keeper; or, Mr. Limberham: A Comedy: […], London: […] R[ichard] Bentley, and M[ary] Magnes, […], published 1680, →OCLC, Act III, scene i, page 30:
text: Then he strolled away, an air from "The Grand Duchess" lightly trolling from his lips.
ref: 1890, J[ames] M[atthew] Barrie, “The Murder in the Inn”, in My Lady Nicotine: A Study in Smoke, Boston, Mass.: Joseph Knight Company, published 1896, →OCLC, pages 248–249:
topics: entertainment
lifestyle
music
glosses: Senses relating to the motion of passing around.
Of a song: to be sung freely or in a carefree way, or loudly; also, of a tune: to be constantly in someone's mind.
examples: text: Novv the cups trole about to vvet the goſſips vvhiſtles / It poures dovvne I faith, they neuer thinke of payment.
ref: c. 1613 (date written), Thomas Midelton [i.e., Thomas Middleton], A Chast Mayd in Cheape-side. A Pleasant Conceited Comedy […], London: […] Francis Constable, […], published 1630, →OCLC, Act III, page 34:
text: Well can the green-garbed ranger tell, / How, when, and where, the monster fell; / […] / While round the merry wassel bowl, / Garnished with ribbons, blithe did trowl.
ref: 1808 February 22, Walter Scott, “Introduction to Canto Sixth: To Richard Heber, Esq.”, in Marmion; a Tale of Flodden Field, Edinburgh: […] J[ames] Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Company, […]; London: William Miller, and John Murray, →OCLC, page 302:
glosses: Senses relating to the motion of passing around.
Of a bowl or other communal drinking vessel, or the drink inside it: to be passed around from one person to another.
examples: text: 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?
ref: 1625 (first performance), Ben[jamin] Jonson, The Staple of Newes. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Robert Allot […], published 1631, →OCLC, Act IV, scene iv, page 59:
text: But they [people from Pisa] speak well out, trolling the words clearly over the tongue.
ref: 1850, Leigh Hunt, “Lord Byron in Italy—Shelley—Pisa”, in The Autobiography of Leigh Hunt; […], volume III, London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], →OCLC, page 50:
glosses: Senses relating to a light, quick motion.
To say (something) lightly and quickly, or in a deep, resounding voice.
examples: text: [T]hat fair femal Troop […] / Bred onely and completed to the taſte / Of luſtful appetence, to ſing, to dance, / To dreſs, and troule the Tongue, and roule the Eye.
ref: 1667, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 610 and 614–616:
glosses: Senses relating to a light, quick motion.
To move (the tongue) lightly and quickly when speaking.
examples: text: Such ſhuld be our trollynges⸝ Chriſt vs ſo teacheth / Commaunding euer peace⸝ amonges vs for to be / Vntruly he trolleth⸝ that otherwyſe preacheth / Styreng to any ſedicion⸝ malyce or enuye
ref: [1540], Thomas Smyth, “A Lytell Treatyse agaynst Sedicyous Persons”, in William Carew Hazlitt, editor, Fugitive Tracts Written in Verse which Illustrate the Condition of Religious and Political Feeling in England […] (First Series (1493–1600)), [London: […] Chiswick Press, Whittingham and Wilkins] […], published 1875, →OCLC:
glosses: Senses relating to a light, quick motion.
To speak lightly and quickly, or in a deep, resounding voice.
examples: text: Fill him but a boule, it will make his tongue troule, / For flowing speech flows from a [pot of good ale].
ref: a. 1617 (date written), Francis Beaumont, “The Ex-ale-tation of Ale”, in The Works of the English Poets, from Chaucer to Cowper; […], volume VI, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson [et al.], published 1810, →OCLC, page 205, column 2:
text: His tongue troules like a Mill-clack: a towzes the Lady ſiſters, as a tumbling Dog does young Rabets; […]
ref: c. 1635–1636 (date written), Iohn Ford [i.e., John Ford], The Fancies, Chast and Noble: […], London: […] E[lizabeth] P[urslowe] for Henry Seile, […], published 1638, →OCLC, Act III, page 39:
glosses: Senses relating to a light, quick motion.
To move lightly and quickly; especially of the tongue when speaking; to wag.
examples: text: 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.
ref: 1764 December 19 (indicated as 1765), Oliver Goldsmith, The Traveller, or A Prospect of Society. A Poem. […], London: […] J[ohn] Newbery, […], →OCLC, page 10:
topics: fishing
hobbies
lifestyle
glosses: Senses relating to fishing.
To fish in (a place) using a running fishing line (that is, a line with a hook on the end which is drawn along the water surface, possibly a line which would originally have been spooled on to a troll (etymology 2, noun sense 8.1)).
examples: text: One while they courſing went / Upon the top of all the ſkie: anon againe full round / They troll me downe to lower wayes and nearer to the ground.
ref: 1567, Ovid, “The Seconde Booke”, in Arthur Golding, transl., The XV. Bookes of P. Ouidius Naso, Entytuled Metamorphosis, […], London: […] Willyam Seres […], →OCLC, folio 18, recto:
text: [M]y houſe is haunted / By a levvd packe of theeves, of harlots, murtherers, / Rogues, vagabonds, I foſter a decoy here, / And ſhe trovvles on her ragged cuſtomer, / To cut my throat for pillage.
ref: c. 1638 May 13 (date licensed; Gregorian calendar), Iohn Ford [i.e., John Ford], The Ladies Triall. […], London: […] E. G. for Henry Shephard, […], published 1639, →OCLC, Act V, signatures I2, verso – I3, recto:
text: It was necessary to troll them along two years with the hope of employing their usual methods, in order to get them to a place too far from their starting-point for retreat.
ref: 1906, Thomas William Lawson, “Fools and Their Money: Some After-claps of Frenzied Finance”, in Everybody’s Magazine, volume XIV, number 5, New York, N.Y.: North American Company, →OCLC, page 690:
glosses: Senses relating to fishing.
To attract or draw out (someone or something); to allure, to elicit, to entice, to lure.
examples: text: I, nor chuſe to bear / The thieviſh nightly net, not barbed ſpear: / Nor drain I ponds the golden carp to take, / Nor trovvle for pikes, diſpeoplers of the lake.
ref: 1713, John Gay, “Rural Sports. A Georgic. Inscribed to Mr. [Alexander] Pope.”, in Poems on Several Occasions, volume I, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], and Bernard Lintot, […], published 1720, →OCLC, page 16, lines 261–264:
text: My flies alone disturbed the placid waters. A half-grown-up lad, who was standing behind me on the bank, advised me to "troll with bait"—a cluster of worms fastened to the hook, which is dragged in jerks over the surface of the water—and offered to find the bait for me.
ref: 1881, P. Chr. Asbjörnsen [i.e., Peter Christen Asbjørnsen], “Legends of the Mill”, in H. L. Brækstad, transl., Round the Yule Log. Norwegian Folk and Fairy Tales, London: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington, →OCLC, page 153:
topics: fishing
hobbies
lifestyle
glosses: Senses relating to fishing.
To fish using a running fishing line.
examples: text: Their young men […] trolled along the brooks that abounded in fish.
ref: 1834–1874, George Bancroft, History of the United States, from the Discovery of the American Continent, volume (please specify |volume=I to X), Boston, Mass.: Little, Brown and Company [et al.], →OCLC:
topics: fishing
hobbies
lifestyle
glosses: Senses relating to fishing.
To fish using a line and bait or lures trailed behind a boat similarly to trawling.
examples: text: Don't pay attention to that guy, he's always trolling this board.
text: When an argument gets heated, it can often be difficult to figure out who's serious and who's just trolling.
text: I trolled, and no one bit! [title]
ref: 1993 October 11, “danny burstein”, “I trolled, and no one bit!”, in alt.folklore.urban (Usenet):
text: There are plenty of commenters who disagree with me vehemently, and are also valued members of the community; if you find yourself unsure as to how to leave a comment without trolling, try asking yourself WWFD (What Would Freddie Do?). Remember, Smokey the Bear says, "Only you can prevent flame wars".
ref: 2008 July 12, Megan McArdle, “Note to Trolls”, in James Bennet, editor, The Atlantic, Washington, D.C.: The Atlantic Monthly Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 25 Dec 2023:
text: Russian Twitter and Facebook bots trolled both the left and the right with agitprop — in what appears to have been a general effort to deepen divisions and sow political chaos in America, not to favor one party or candidate over the other.
ref: 2017 November 19, Paul Sperry, “Here are some of the biggest myths of the Russian-collusion story”, in New York Post, New York, N.Y.: News Corp, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 30 Mar 2024:
text: Could you be trolling and believe in it at the same time?
ref: 2020, Emily Segal, Mercury Retrograde, New York, N.Y.: Deluge Books, →ISBN:
glosses: Senses relating to "fishing" for a reaction.
To post irrelevant or inflammatory statements in an online discussion in an attempt to start a heated argument or to derail a conversation, either for one's personal entertainment or as part of an organized political campaign.
examples: text: Many people have been trolling me due to my activism, but I don't let it get to me.
text: No one who spoke to Al Jazeera seemed surprised that 54 percent of girls had suffered some form of online harassment. […] Internet psychologist Graham Jones offers some explanations as to the mentality of people who troll online. In an email to Al Jazeera he explained that some forms of trolling could be unintentional.
ref: 2013 December 24, Philippa H Stewart, “Online feminists are taking on the trolls”, in Al Jazeera English, archived from the original on 23 Jan 2021:
text: Although many media outlets were being trolled by Chinese accounts well before 2020, "the main campaign appears to have picked up steam around mid-March as a loose network of Twitter accounts designed to mimic and harass Western media", according to the Institute's researchers Elise Thomas and Albert Zang.
ref: 2020 April 23, Chris Zappone, “Pro-China trolls fake accounts to hound foreign media over coronavirus”, in The Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney, NSW: Nine Entertainment, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 07 Jul 2022:
text: Bullying tactics such as trolling are used to reinforce power dynamics and keep females quiet and complacent with timeworn traditions. And while I could spend hours typing up elaborate responses to each Tweet, I have only two words for men who try to use my religion to justify misogyny: "mute" and "block."
ref: 2021 November 8, Hafsa Lodi, “I was trolled by pro-Taliban extremists after writing about Muslim feminism”, in Business Insider, New York, N.Y.: Insider Inc., →OCLC, archived from the original on 07 Apr 2024:
text: According to an investigation by Tortoise Media, which examined more than one million tweets, more than 50 per cent of anti-Heard messages in the run-up to the 2022 defamation case were "inauthentic" – either from automated "bot" accounts or people hired to attack the actress. ¶ They called her an "abuser", a "liar" and a "traitor", while proclaiming Depp's innocence of domestic abuse allegations. ¶ The Tortoise podcast, Who Trolled Amber?, alleges that a number of the accounts tweeted in Arabic and were full of praise for the Saudi regime or its ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
ref: 2024 February 27, Anita Singh, “Amber Heard ’trolled by Saudi-backed bots’ during Johnny Depp court battles”, in Chris Evans, editor, The Daily Telegraph, London: Telegraph Media Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 06 Mar 2024:
glosses: Senses relating to "fishing" for a reaction.
To persistently harass someone over the Internet.
examples: text: The actress was widely trolled online after accidentally revealing that she didn't know the names of the continents.
text: This is lazy outrage bait. But I am biting anyway, because while Time could have trolled readers by calling a ban for the word on "feminist" any time, the magazine is considering it in a year when the conversation about the meaning of the term is as rich as it has been in some time–even if some of that conversation is being conducted through mass culture.
ref: 2014 November 12, Alyssa Rosenberg, “Time Magazine’s silly proposal to ban the word "feminist"”, in The Washington Post, Washington, D.C.: The Washington Post Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 13 Nov 2014:
text: We like to troll, we like to go the night before one of their primaries, we just, we do a little trolling, it's called we do a little trolling.
ref: 2020 March 2, Donald Trump, President Trump Rally in Charlotte, North Carolina, via C-SPAN:
text: Cristiano Ronaldo's dislike of dessert has been trolled by a former teammate. ¶ Ben Foster proudly showed off his apple crumble, having joked that he was skipping dessert.
ref: 2021 September 22, Sam Cooper, “An old teammate of Cristiano Ronaldo's trolled his dislike of dessert by scoffing a giant pudding on his YouTube channel”, in Business Insider, New York, N.Y.: Insider Inc., →OCLC, archived from the original on 07 Apr 2024:
text: Taylor Swift, who could've been crowned the queen of pranks in the early years of her career, is finding out what it feels like to be on the other side of a little onstage trolling.
ref: 2024 March 11, Sammi Burke, “See One of Taylor Swift's Dancers Troll Her on Stage During '22'”, in Parade, New York, N.Y.: The Arena Group, →OCLC, archived from the original on 07 Apr 2024:
glosses: Senses relating to "fishing" for a reaction.
To prank, tease, or mess with someone in a lighthearted way.
synonyms: punk
Derived terms: word: self-trolling
word: troller
word: trolling