trawl

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

trawl, v. i. [OF. trauler, troller, F. trôter, to drag about, to stroll about; probably of Teutonic origin. Cf. Troll, v. t.].

 To take fish, or other marine animals, with a trawl.  [1913 Webster]

trawl, n. 

•  A fishing line, often extending a mile or more, having many short lines bearing hooks attached to it. It is used for catching cod, halibut, etc.; a boulter.  [1913 Webster]
•  A large bag net attached to a beam with iron frames at its ends, and dragged at the bottom of the sea, -- used in fishing, and in gathering forms of marine life from the sea bottom.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

trawl, 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.

Etymology

prob. f. MDu. traghelen to drag (cf. traghel drag-net), perh. f. L tragula

THESAURUS

trawl

angle, bait, bait the hook, birdlime, bob, bola, clam, cobweb, dap, dib, dibble, drag, draggle, dragnet, draw, drive, fish, fishhook, fly, fly-fish, gig, gill net, go fishing, grig, ground bait, guddle, hale, haul, heave, hook, jack, jacklight, jig, lariat, lasso, lime, lug, lure, meshes, net, noose, plug, pound net, pull, purse seine, seine, shrimp, snake, snare, sniggle, spin, spinner, springe, squid, still-fish, take in tow, toils, torch, tow, trail, train, troll, tug, whale, wobbler

ROGET THESAURUS

trawl

Experiment

VB experiment, essay, try, try out, assay, make an experiment, make a trial of, give a trial to, put on trial, subject to trial, experiment upon, rehearse, put to the test, bring to the test, submit to the test, submit to the proof, prove, verify, test, touch, practice upon, try one's strength, road-test, test drive, take for a spin, test fly, grope, feel one's way, grope for one's way, fumble, t=atonner, aller =a t=atons, put out a feeler, throw out a feeler, send up a trial balloon, send up a pilot balloon, see how the land lies, get the lay of the land, test the waters, feel out, sound out, take the pulse, see, check, check out, see how the wind blows, consult the barometer, feel the pulse, fish for, bob for, cast for, beat about for, angle, trawl, cast one's net, beat the bushes, try one's fortune, explore.