Trolls

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Mythical beings typically depicted as large, ugly, and living in caves or under bridges ; people who deliberately post offensive or inflammatory messages online to provoke others
2. In folklore, creatures often portrayed as malicious or grotesque beings from Scandinavian stories ; individuals online who stir up conflict by posting disruptive content
3. Legendary monsters known for their hideous appearance and supernatural traits ; users on the internet who post contentious remarks to annoy or upset others

Etymology: The creatures we call trolls were once a far more menacing category: Old Norse "trǫll" meant a conjurer or witch, and the word's Proto-Germanic ancestor covered demons, giants and monsters alike. Scandinavian folklore gave the being its familiar shape later, and Middle English "trol" carried the older sense of a demon or sorcerer. The root is thought to link to a verb meaning "to tread," which may describe a creature that trampled or lumbered through the landscape. The plural "trolls" simply follows the usual English pattern for the noun "troll." The noun is thought to come from an unrelated-looking verb, "trollen," which meant to wander, stroll or roll about. A troll, in that sense, was something that rambled, and the verb's wandering sense also gave rise to the modern verb for fishing with a line trailed behind a boat.

Synonyms: goblins, ogres, monsters