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<font size=3>OED2 has for troll (v):<br>
V. 13. Angling. intr. To angle with a running line (? orig. with
the line running on a ‘troll’ or winch); also (trans.) to fish (water) in
this way; spec. a. to fish for pike by working a dead bait (usually
on a gorge hook) by a sink-and-draw motion; b. (trans. and intr.),
to angle with a spinning bait: = spin v. 12a, b; c. in U.S. and Sc.
use (perh. through association with trail or trawl), to trail a baited
line behind a boat. Also fig.<br>
In quot. 1606 perh. confused with trawl.<br>
[Citations form 1606 to 1984.]<br><br>
Joel<br><br>
At 8/1/2007 07:44 AM, you wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">A friend of mine who is an
English professor at the University of<br>
Pennsylvania posed this question:<br><br>
"Since when did the verb 'trawling,' borrowed from (or having the
same<br>
root as) ships and fishing, become 'trolling,' as in trolling for
votes,<br>
or for campaign dollars, or for justifications for going to war,
etc.?<br>
What does a hairy monster living under a bridge have to do with<br>
in-gathering?"<br><br>
Any comments? Is this an eggcorn?<br><br>
Fred Shapiro<br><br>
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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org