Toll Names a Charge and Also a Slow Bell
A toll is a charge for passage. A separate toll is the slow ringing of a bell.
A toll is a charge for passing along a road or bridge, and also a number of casualties. A separate *toll* is the slow deliberate ringing of a single bell, particularly to announce a death — the origin of Donne's line about not asking for whom the bell tolls. That verb is probably from Middle English *tollen*, to pull, since a bell is tolled by pulling the rope for each stroke. The charge sense is Latin *toloneum*, from Greek *telos*, a tax or due.
- A charge for passage. *A toll road.*
- A count of casualties. *The death toll.*
- To ring slowly. *The bell tolled.*
- Tollbooth. *A tollbooth.*
- Greek — *telos*, a tax. *The charge.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | toll | A toll. |
| Verb | toll | Tolling. |
| Compound | tollbooth | A tollbooth. |
| Compound | death toll | The death toll. |
| Greek | telos | A tax. |
- They paid the bridge toll.Charge.
- The bell tolled at noon.Bell.
- The death toll rose.Count.
Tolling versus ringing
- Tolling — single slow strokes, traditionally for a death
- Ringing — full peals, for celebration
- A passing bell announced a death in the parish
- The number of strokes often told the age or sex of the dead
- Donne's line assumes everyone would recognise the sound
The charge is Latin *toloneum*, from Greek *telos*, a tax. The bell verb is Middle English *tollen*, to pull.
Are the two tolls related?
No. The charge comes from a Greek word for a tax; the bell verb probably comes from a word meaning to pull.
What is the difference between tolling and ringing a bell?
Tolling is single slow strokes, traditionally marking a death. Ringing is a full peal, usually celebratory.