troll

English

/tɹɒl/, /tɹoʊl/

noun
Definitions
  • (fantasy) A supernatural being of varying size, now especially a grotesque humanoid creature living in caves or hills or under bridges.
  • (slang) An ugly person of either sex, especially one seeking sexual experiences.
  • (astronomy) Optical ejections from the top of the electrically active core regions of thunderstorms that are red in color that seem to occur after tendrils of vigorous sprites extend downward toward the cloud tops.

Etymology

Derived from Swedish troll derived from Danish trold (magic, troll) derived from Old Norse trǫll (conjurer, mage, witch) derived from Proto-Germanic *truzlą (creature which walks clumsily, giant, fiend, a supernatural being, monster, demon).

Origin

Proto-Germanic

*truzlą

Gloss

creature which walks clumsily, giant, fiend, a supernatural being, monster, demon

Concept
Semantic Field

Religion and belief

Ontological Category

Person/Thing

Emoji
👿

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms