[toll] n [ME, fr. OE, fr. (assumed) VL tolonium, alter. of LL telonium customhouse, fr. Gk tolonion, fr. telones collector of tolls, fr. telos tax, toll; perh. akin to Gk tlenai to bear] (bef. 12c) 1: a tax or fee paid for some liberty or privilege (as of passing over a highway or bridge)
2: compensation for services rendered: as a: a charge for transportation b: a charge for a long-distance telephone call
3: a grievous or ruinous price "inflation has taken its ~"; esp: cost in life or health "the death ~ from the hurricane"
[2]toll vi (14c): to take or levy toll ~ vt 1 a: to exact part of as a toll b: to take as toll
2: to exact a toll from (someone) [3]toll or tole vt tolled or toled ; toll.ing or tol.ing [ME tollen, tolen; akin to OE fortyllan to seduce] (13c) 1: allure, entice
2. a: to entice (game) to approach b: to attract (fish) with scattered bait c: to lead or attract (domestic animals) to a desired point [4]toll vb [ME, perh. fr. tollen to entice] vt (15c) 1: to sound (a bell) by pulling the rope
2. a: to give signal or announcement of "the clock ~ed each hour" b: to announce by tolling "church bells ~ed the death of the bishop" c: to call to or from a place or occasion "bells ~ed the congregation to church" ~ vi: to sound with slow measured strokes "the bell ~s solemnly" [5]toll n (15c): the sound of a tolling bell