v. & n.
v. 1 a intr. (of a bell) sound with a slow uniform succession of strokes. b tr. ring (a bell) in this way. c tr. (of a bell) announce or mark (a death etc.) in this way. 2 tr. strike (the hour).
n. 1 the act of tolling. 2 a stroke of a bell.
[ ME, special use of (now dial.) toll entice, pull, f. an OE root -tyllan (recorded in fortyllan seduce) ]