v. & n.
v. 1 intr. a fish with a trawl or seine. b seek a suitable candidate etc. by sifting through a large number. 2 tr. a catch by trawling. b seek a suitable candidate etc. from (a certain area or group etc.) (trawled the schools for new trainees).
n. 1 an act of trawling. 2 (in full trawl-net) a large wide-mouthed fishing-net dragged by a boat along the bottom. 3 (in full trawl-line) US a long sea-fishing line buoyed and supporting short lines with baited hooks.
[ prob. f. MDu. traghelen to drag (cf. traghel drag-net), perh. f. L tragula ]