1. n.1 a charge payable for permission to pass a barrier or use a bridge or road etc.
2 the cost or damage caused by a disaster, battle, etc., or incurred in an achievement (death toll).
3 US a charge for a long distance telephone call.
Phrases and idioms:
take its toll be accompanied by loss or injury etc. toll-bridge a bridge at which a toll is charged. toll-gate a gate preventing passage until a toll is paid. toll-house a house at a toll-gate or -bridge, used by a toll-collector. toll-road a road maintained by the tolls collected on it.
Etymology: OE f. med.L toloneum f. LL teloneum f. Gk telonion toll-house f. telos tax 2. 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.
Etymology: ME, special use of (now dial.) toll entice, pull, f. an OE root -tyllan (recorded in fortyllan seduce)