† trilln.1
Obsolete rare.
Origin and meaning uncertain.
ΚΠ
1558 in J. T. Gilbert Cal. Anc. Rec. Dublin (1889) 470 Wheare the bouchers of this cittie and ther servaunts dothe contynuallie cut trills out of every hyde,..every person may laufully seise and take..all and every suche tryle as shalbe founde.
1654 in W. M. Myddelton Chirk Castle Accts. (1908) 47 For makeinge trills and pullies for the weaver's loome.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
trilln.2
/trɪl/, U.S. /trɪl/ 1. Music. (a) A tremulous utterance of a note or notes, as a ‘grace’ or ornament: = tremolo n. or vibrato n. (b) A rapid alternation of two notes a degree apart; a shake.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > piece of music > section of piece of music > ornament > [noun] > trill
quaver1533
trill1649
trillo1651
shake1659
trillado1721
Pralltriller1841
trillet1867
pincé1876
roll1880
tremblement1884
1649 R. Lovelace Lucasta: Epodes, Odes, Sonnets, Songs 120 Far lesse be't Æmulation To passe me, or in trill or Tone Like the thin throat of Philomel.
1664 J. Playford Brief Introd. Skill Musick (ed. 4) i. 68 The Trill..is upon one Note only.
1710 Tatler No. 222 I..have attributed many of his [a vocal musician's] Trills and Quavers to the Coldness of the Weather.
1786 R. Burns Cotter's Sat. Night xiii, in Poems & Songs (1968) I. 149 The sweetest far of Scotia's holy lays: Compar'd with these, Italian trills are tame.
1801 A. Ranken Hist. France I. 488 The beats, the trills, the shakes, and accents of the Italians.
1886 Appletons' Ann. Cycl. 1885 87 This even and continuous roll [of the canary~notes] is as perfect as the trill of any instrument.
2. transferred. A tremulous high-pitched sound or succession of notes, esp. in the singing of birds.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > sound or bird defined by > [noun] > song > part of
notec1400
trillo1651
trilla1704
toy1727
roll1886
subsong1925
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > quality of voice > [noun] > tremulous quality
trilla1704
quaver1748
tremble1779
tremor1797
falter1834
shake1859
a1704 T. Brown Oration in Praise Drunkenness in Wks. (1707) I. i. 54 The Drunkards Voice is Hoarse and Manly, not like the squeaking trills of an Eunuch.
1745 Warton Inscript. Hermitage ii Within my limits lone and still The blackbird pipes in artless trill.
1865 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend II. iii. xii. 110 There was quite a fresh trill in his voice.
1884 R. C. Praed Zéro iv There was the trill and full chirrup of the chaffinch.
3. Phonetics. The pronunciation of a consonant, esp. r, with vibration of the tongue or other part of the vocal organs; a consonant so pronounced.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > linguistics > study of speech sound > speech sound > speech sound by manner > [noun] > sonant > liquid > trill
dog's lettera1552
doggish letter1599
trill1848
roll1855
hirrient1860
the mind > language > linguistics > study of speech sound > speech sound > speech sound by manner > [noun] > sonant > liquid > trill > articulation of
trill1848
1848 A. J. Ellis Essent. Phonetics 50 There may be three trills belonging to this group.
1848 A. J. Ellis Essent. Phonetics 51 Persons who are unable to execute the trill.
1867 A. M. Bell Visible Speech: Sci. Universal Alphabetics 55 The sign of ‘trill’..denotes a vibration of the uvula;..of the point of the tongue;..of the lips.
1877 H. Sweet Handbk. Phonetics §102 Trills are a special variety of unstopped consonants.
1889 A. J. Ellis On Early Eng. Pronunc. V. 643 Uvular trill.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
trilln.3
dialect.
The shaft of a cart or wagon. Also attributive.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > cart, carriage, or wagon > parts of cart or carriage > [noun] > shaft(s) or pole
thillc1325
limber1480
sway1535
neap1553
draught-tree1580
wain-beam1589
beam1600
fills1609
spire1609
foreteam?1611
verge1611
shaft1613
rangy1657
pole1683
thrill1688
trill1688
rod1695
range1702
neb1710
sharp1733
tram1766
carriage pole1767
sill1787
tongue1792
nib1808
dissel-boom1822
tongue-tree1829
reach1869
wain-stang1876
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory iii. 339/2 The Trills, or Sides of the Cart, which the horse is to stand between.
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory iii. 340/1 The Trill Horse, that next the Cart, and beareth the sides up with a Back band lying on the Trill Sadle.
1704 Dict. Rusticum at Cart The Trill-Hooks and Back-band, which holds the sides of the Cart up to the Horse.
1766 Compl. Farmer at Spiky-roller Let the trills be placed just on the middle of each frame.
1905 Eng. Dial. Dict. Thrill, recorded from South Cheshire, but now ‘less commonly used than formerly’. Also Thrill-bars, Thrill-gears; Thrill-horse, or Thriller, the shaft-horse. [Randle Holme, with whom the Dictionary entries begin, was a native of Chester.]]
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online September 2018).
† trilln.4
Obsolete.
A hot-air channel in a green-house, etc.; a flue.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > that which or one who heats > [noun] > a device for heating or warming > duct or pipe conveying heat
sidewaya1387
caliduct1624
floor-pipe1691
stovepipe1691
trill1707
flue1715
hot-water pipe1744
riser1876
flow-pipe1904
1707 J. Mortimer Whole Art Husbandry (1721) II. 191 One part of it may have Trils made under the Floor to convey warmth from the Stoves made on the back side of the House, the better to preserve it from Cold or Dampness.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
trillv.1
/trɪl/, U.S. /trɪl/ Now dialect or archaic.† 2. intransitive. Of a wheel, ball, etc.: To revolve, spin, roll, trundle. Obsolete.
1. transitive. To turn (a thing) round, to cause to revolve or rotate; = tirl v.3 1.
a. To twirl, twiddle, whirl, spin. to trill the bones (slang): to throw the dice with a spinning motion; cf. ‘whirl the bones’, bone n.1 16.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > revolution or rotation > revolve or rotate [verb (transitive)]
turnOE
trillc1386
gyrec1420
rote?1533
tirl1543
to turn round1555
revolve1559
circumvert1578
circumgyre1635
circumrote1635
circumgyrate1647
circumvolve1647
veera1649
twist1769
rotate1777
sphere1820
c1386 G. Chaucer Squire's Tale 308 But whan yow list to ryden any where Ye mooten trille [v.r. trylle] a pyn stant in his [the brazen horse's] ere.
c1386 G. Chaucer Squire's Tale 313 And whan ye come ther as yow list abyde, Bidde hym descende, and trille [v.rr. tryl, -le, tril] another pyn.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 762/1 I tryll a whirlygyg rounde aboute, je pirouette... I tryll, je jecte.
1547 W. Salesbury Dict. Eng. & Welshe Troi whirligwgan, tryll a whyrlygyg.
?1550 R. Weaver Lusty Iuventus sig. D.iii I wyll trill the bones while I haue one grote.
1570 P. Levens Manipulus Vocabulorum sig. Kiiiv/2 To Tril, circumuertere.
1616 J. Lane Contin. Squire's Tale iv. 417 So taught her how to trill the pinn in th' eare, Which th' horse, at willes quicke call, heard anie wheare.
1873 W. P. Williams & W. A. Jones Gloss. Somersetshire Trill, to twirl.
1885 R. F. Burton tr. Arabian Nights' Entertainm. (1887) III. 141 Thereupon the Prince trilled the pin.
b. To roll, bowl, trundle (a ball, a hoop, etc.); to move (a thing) on wheels or castors. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > specific manner of progressive motion > move or cause to move progressively in specific manner [verb (transitive)] > cause to roll along > roll on wheels or castors
trill1408
truckle1796
1408 Clifton tr. Vegetius De Re Milit. iv. xvii. (Digby 233, lf. 220 b/2) Þese toures mot haue crafty whelus Imaad to trille hem liȝtliche to þe walles.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 502/2 Tryllyn, or trollyn, volvo, Cath.
1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 42v Eris..had trilled along the table a golden apple.
1575 G. Gascoigne Fruites of Warre lxvii, in Posies sig. Hviii As fortune trilles the ball.
1642 J. Howell Instr. Forreine Travell v. 59 As wise as he, who carried the coach-wheele upon his back, when he might have trilled it before him all along.
1650 J. Howell tr. A. Giraffi Exact Hist. Late Revol. Naples i. 91 The huge concourse of people..which were so thick, that one might have trill'd a bal upon their heads.
1673–4 R. Allestree Let. 7 Jan. in Fox Bourne Locke (1876) I. vi. 321 I had acknowledged the receipt of yours..long since, had I not been trilled on in a constant expectation of being [etc.].
1905 Eng. Dial. Dict. VI. 236/2 [E. Kent] There now, let me see how nicely you can trill your hoop.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > revolution or rotation > revolve or rotate [verb (intransitive)] > turn over and over or roll
trenda1000
trendlea1225
rollc1405
overwhelma1425
windle1487
trill1531
volve1568
troll1581
tirl1824
1531 T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour i. xxvii. sig. Ni If it [tennis-ball] trille fast on the grounde.
1681 P. Rycaut tr. B. Gracián y Morales Critick 142 Some~times it [the ball] was tossed so high, that it was out of sight, anon so low..it bounded and trilled on the ground.
Derivatives
ˈtrilling n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > revolution or rotation > [noun] > twirling
trillingc1410
twirling1598
twirlification1834
c1410 N. Love tr. Bonaventura Mirror Life Christ (1908) xviii. 112 As we mowe see alday many men and wommen berynge bedes with trillynge on the fyngres and waggynge the lippes, bot the siȝt caste to vanytees.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
trillv.2
archaic.† 3. intransitive. To fall or hang down in a flowing manner; to stream, trail. Obsolete.
1.
a. intransitive. Of tears, water, a stream: To roll, to flow in a slender stream, the particles of water being in constant revolution, with a more continuous motion than is expressed by trickle; to purl. (Sometimes (as in quot. 1613) including the notion of musical sound, as in trill v.3)
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > liquid flow > action or process of flowing > flow [verb (intransitive)] > purl or in a whirling motion
trillc1386
purla1586
prill1598
c1386 G. Chaucer Summoner's Tale (Harl.) 156 With many a teere trilling [v.rr. triklyng, trynkelynge] on my cheeke.
a1400 St. Erkenwolde 322 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1881) 273 Teres trilled adoun & one þe toumbe lightene.
a1542 T. Wyatt Coll. Poems (1969) xcv. 2 From thes hye hilles as when a spryng doth fall It tryllyth downe with still and suttyll corse.
1613 W. Browne Britannia's Pastorals I. v. 93 Two Springs arise, and delicately trill, In gentle chidings through an humble dale.
1670 J. Dryden & W. Davenant Shakespeare's Tempest ii. 17 A cold sweat trills down o'er all my limbs.
1748 Defoe's Tour Great Brit. (ed. 4) I. 230 Water, which trills thro' Marble Troughs, one below another.
1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering II. 8 A little dell, through which trilled a small rivulet.
b. intransitive. To flow or run with thrilling effect. (Perhaps meant for thrill v.1 4b.)
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > excitement > pleasurable excitement > [verb (intransitive)] > run with thrilling effect
trill1740
1740 W. Somervile Hobbinol i. 71 What Extasies of Joy Trill'd through thy Veins, when..they strok'd thy grizly Beard.
2. transitive. To cause to flow in this way. †trill off, to drain off, drink up (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > liquid flow > action or process of flowing > flow [verb (transitive)] > cause to flow (away)
trillc1485
derive1598
to run off1737
the world > food and drink > drink > drinking > [verb (transitive)] > drink up or off
swap?1507
swingea1529
drink1535
uphalec1540
toss1568
trill off?1589
snapa1592
to toss offa1592
to turn down1593
to top off1598
drain1604
to take off1613
outdrinka1631
whip1639
swoop1648
epote1657
to fetch off1657
ebibe1689
fetch1691
to tip off1699
to sweep off1707
tip1784
to turn over1796
c1485 Early Eng. Misc. (Warton Club) 65 One truth let ever thi tong tryle.
?1589 T. Nashe Almond for Parrat 12 b A boule of Beere..you tooke..from before him, and trilled it off without anie more bones.
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. i. v. 180 The other [Pelican]..Teares her owne bowells, trilleth out her blood To heale her young.
a1657 G. Daniel Trinarchodia in Poems (1878) III. To Rdr. 130 The Pumpe of Witt..trills a Coppie, that the Spunges may Lick vp what he hath Squeez'd.
1869 A. J. Evans Vashti xxv. 336 When I have trilled a fortune into that abhorred vacuum, my pocket, I shall go down to the Tigris, and catch the mate to Tobias' fish.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > support > hanging or suspension > hang or be suspended [verb (intransitive)] > hang down > trailingly
trikea1350
trilla1400
trailc1412
train1584
dragglec1594
tag1617
traipsea1777
streel1847
trape1875
a1400 Sir Beues (E.) 1665 Hys heere tryllyd doun too hys ffoote.
c1440 Brut 462 A bawdrik of gold aboute his neck, trillyng doun behynde hym.
1609 Bp. W. Barlow Answer Catholike English-man 11 His Picture drawn with two ropes about his neck, and his bowels (like an other Iudas) trilling downe his body.
Derivatives
ˈtrilling n. and adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > sound of water > [noun] > rippling
trilling1567
rippling1769
ripple1857
the world > matter > liquid > liquid flow > action or process of flowing > [noun] > action or process of flowing
trilling1567
coursing1569
afflux1603
curriclea1682
the world > the earth > water > flow or flowing > wave > movement of waves > [adjective] > running high, surging, or rolling
wallingOE
waveringc1425
surging1566
trilling1567
wambling1581
grown1600
surgeful1612
sourcinga1660
washing1697
flashing1744
under-rolling1745
jawing1802
rolly1885
1567 G. Turberville tr. Ovid Pyndara's Answer to Tymetes Epit., etc. 27 Not shed my trilling teares vpon thy moisted face?
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis ii. 22 Tears with trilling shal bayne my phisnomye deepelye.
a1637 B. Jonson Sad Shepherd ii. ii. 28 in Wks. (1640) III Twa trilland brookes, each (from his spring) doth meet. View more context for this quotation
1665 R. Hooke Micrographia xx. 129 The droppings or trillings of Lapidescent waters in Vaults under ground.
1713 R. Steele Guardian No. 50. ⁋2 The trilling of rivulets.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
trillv.3
1. intransitive. To sing with vibratory effect; to sing a trill or shake, to ‘shake’; of a voice, etc.: To sound with tremulous vibration.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > quality of voice > [verb (intransitive)] > tremble
trill1667
quaver1727
wobble1885
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > sound [verb (intransitive)] > sound tremulous
trill1667
warble1714
society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > singing > sing [verb (intransitive)] > trill
warble1530
quaver1538
freddon1589
firdon16..
trill1667
1667 S. Pepys Diary 7 Feb. (1974) VIII. 49 My wife taking..pride that she shall come to trill; and ended, I think she will.
1667 S. Pepys Diary 7 Sept. (1974) VIII. 424 I did tell him of my intention to learn to trill.
1841 I. D'Israeli Amenities Lit. II. 273 This consonance trills in the simple carol of the African women.
1856 E. Capern Poems (ed. 2) 54 And music trilled o'er moor and mead.
1884 St. James's Gaz. 29 May 6/2 At least four nightingales..trilling in whole-hearted chorus.
2.
a. transitive. To utter or sing (a note, tune, etc.) with tremulous vibration of sound.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > singing > sing [verb (transitive)] > trill
knackc1380
quaver1570
warble1576
thrill1646
trilla1701
a1701 C. Sedley Poet. Pieces in Wks. (1722) II. 15 The Nightingale her mournful Story trills In yonder Hawthorn Shade.
1744 J. Thomson Summer in Seasons (new ed.) 85 The sober-suited Songstress trills her Lay.
1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake iv. 176 So blithely he trilled the lowland lay.
1841 C. Dickens Old Curiosity Shop i. xv. 173 The lark trilled out her happy song.
1860 P. H. Gosse Romance Nat. Hist. 28 Like that charming bird-voice, it was beautifully trilled or shaken.
1862 M. E. Braddon Lady Audley's Secret I. ix. 155 Sitting down to the piano to trill out a ballad.
b. To cause (an instrument or the voice) to vibrate with a tremulous sound.
ΚΠ
1846 C. Dickens Dombey & Son (1848) iii. 16 The man who trilled the little bell of the Dutch clock as he went along.
1848 A. J. Ellis Essent. Phonetics 49 The tongue assumes precisely the same position as for s, but the tip is now trilled.
3. To pronounce (a consonant, esp. r) with a vibration of the tongue (or other vocal organ) and the corresponding auditory effect; = roll v.2 38a.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > linguistics > study of speech sound > speech sound > speech sound by manner > [verb (transitive)] > trill
roll1846
trill1848
1848 A. J. Ellis Essent. Phonetics 95 To show that the r is..trilled.
1873 J. A. H. Murray Dial. S. Counties Scotl. 120 R is in Scotch..in all positions trilled sharply with the point of the tongue.
1887 Pronunc. Latin (Cambr. Philol. Soc.) 5 Trilled ‘r’ as in French (or Scotch): more strongly trilled than in English ‘Opera’, ‘herring’.
Derivatives
trilled adj. /trɪld/
/trɪld/ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > piece of music > section of piece of music > ornament > [adjective] > trill
shaked1659
trilled1848
the mind > language > linguistics > study of speech sound > speech sound > speech sound by manner > [adjective] > sonant > liquid > trill
rolling1831
hirrient1832
trilled1848
rolled1852
1848 A. J. Ellis Essent. Phonetics 68 Veer-ing, car-ing [etc.] lose their trilled..r.
1887Trilled [see sense 3]. 1894 Outing 24 230/2 I had failed to subsist on the manna of the Covenanters or a high-trilled Te Deum.
ˈtriller n. a person who trills.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musician > singer > other types of singer > [noun] > other singers
knackerc1380
jubilist1471
sol-faer1609
serenader1677
comic singer1753
ranter1769
country singer1790
caroler1806
chansonnier1822
troller1824
cantabank1834
triller1873
lion comique1899
chantwell1909
red-hot mama1924
song stylist1931
singer-songwriter1949
playback singer1963
1873 T. L. Kington-Oliphant Sources Stand. Eng. 323 A triller of Italian trills must be known as a vocalist.
ˈtrilling adj. and n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > quality of voice > [adjective] > tremulous
trillinga1700
quavering1726
quaverous1852
wobbly1873
quavery1890
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > continuous or protracted sound > vibratory sound > [noun] > trill
trillinga1700
trill-trill1850
trillet1867
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > [adjective] > timbre or quality > with vibrato
trillinga1700
tremolando1854
a1700 J. Dryden (Todd) Am I call'd upon the grave debate, To judge of trilling notes and tripping feet?
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones II. v. x. 199 The sweet Trilling of a murmuring Stream. View more context for this quotation
1753 Scots Mag. 15 40/2 Ye angels, catch the trilling sound.
1854 J. S. Bushnan in J. Wylde Circle of Sci. (c1865) I. 292/2 Its song is composed of several strains, each consisting of trilling and warbling notes variously modulated.
1888 H. Sweet Hist. Eng. Sounds (new ed.) 25 We have, lastly, the trilling of open consonants [especially English and German r].
ˈtrillingly adv. in a trilling manner, with trilling.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > quality of voice > [adverb] > tremulous
quiveringly1594
quaveringly1882
trillingly1887
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > continuous or protracted sound > vibratory sound > [adverb] > trill
trillingly1887
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > [adverb] > timbre or quality > vibrato
vibrato1861
tremolando1887
trillingly1887
1887 Eng. Illustr. Mag. Sept. 779 As many finches, singing trillingly.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
† trillv.4
Obsolete. rare.
transitive. To rock (a cradle).
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > alternating or reciprocating motion > oscillation > oscillate [verb (transitive)] > rock > a cradle
rock?c1225
trillc1425
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > [verb (transitive)] > put to or cause to sleep > induce or lull to sleep > by rocking > specifically a cradle
rock?c1225
trillc1425
c1425 Fest. of Ch. viii, in Holy Rood (E.E.T.S.) App. 213 Ȝit myȝt þe mylde may among Her cradel trille to and fro, And syng, Osye, thi song!
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
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n.11558
n.21649
n.31688n.41707v.1c1386v.2c1386v.31667v.4c1425