toll-freeadj.
a. Free from toll; exempt from payment of toll. (Usually in predicative or adverbial construction.)
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > impost, due, or tax > duty on goods > [adjective] > exempt from payment of
toll-free1052
1052–67 Charter of Eadweard in Kemble Cod. Dipl. IV. 209 Tolfreo ofer ealle Engleland, wiðinne burhe and wiðutan.
1277 Brit. Mus. Add. Charter 51563 [Pannage and other rights are granted] cum hopirfre et tolfre in omnibus molendinis meis.
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) II. f. xixv That ye cytezens of London shulde passe toll fre thorough all Englande.
1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Surueyeng ix. f. 10 Some men to be tole free, and some to be hopper fre.
1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 493 Hee obtained that it might be every where Toll-free.
1829 W. Scott Anne of Geierstein I. ix. 262 Such wares will not pass toll-free where Archibald of Hagenbach hath authority.
b. Esp. (North American) of telephone calls, lines, etc.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > [adjective] > free of charge for phone call
toll-free1970
society > communication > telecommunication > telegraphy or telephony > telephony > [adjective] > type of call
long distance1826
reverse charge1908
collect1912
person-to-person1919
toll-free1970
national1984
1970 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 26 Sept. 31/1 (advt.) For reservations, call toll-free 368-7474.
1971 Sci. Amer. Oct. 7/2 (advt.) When you buy a '72, you get the name and toll-free number of a person in Detroit.
1976 National Observer (U.S.) 13 Mar. 3/6 (advt.) Write or call now. Our toll-free lines are open 24 hours daily, 7 days a week.
1979 Arizona Daily Star 5 Aug. (Advt. section) 4/3 Make a toll-free call to Bill Jackson.
1984 Gainesville (Florida) Sun 28 Mar. 2 a/3 I have called the same toll-free number I ordered from several times but these people will not return my call.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
adj.1052