n.
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, to pull, drag, toll (a bell), perhaps alteration of toilen to struggle ― more at TOIL
Date: 15th century
transitive verb
1 : to sound (a bell) by pulling the rope
2 a : to give signal or announcement of <the clock toll ed each hour> b : to announce by tolling <church bells toll ed the death of the bishop> c : to call to or from a place or occasion <bells toll ed the congregation to church>
intransitive verb : to sound with slow measured strokes <the bell toll s solemnly>