A- (3) prefix meaning "not," from Gk a-, an- "not," from pie base *ne "not" (see un-)

troll (v.) --- 1377, "to go about, stroll," later (c.1425) "roll from side to side, trundle," from O.Fr. troller, a hunting term, "wander, to go in quest of game without purpose," from a Gmc. source (cf. O.H.G. trollen "to walk with short steps"), from P.Gmc. *truzlanan. Sense of "sing in a full, rolling voice" (first attested 1575) and that of "fish with a moving line" (1606) are both extended technical applications of the general sense of "roll, trundle," the latter perhaps confused with trail or trawl. Fig. sense of "to draw on as with a moving bait, entice, allure" is from 1565. Meaning "to cruise in search of sexual encounters" is recorded from 1967, originally in homosexual slang.

trolley --- 1823, in Suffolk dialect, "a cart," especially one with wheels flanged for running on a track (1858), probably from troll (v.) in the sense of "to roll." Sense transferred to "pulley to convey current to a streetcar motor" (1890), then "streetcar drawing power by a trolley" (1891).

trollop --- 1615, "slovenly woman," probably from troll (v.) in sense of "roll about, wallow."

trombone --- brass wind instrument, 1724, from It. trombone, augmentative form of tromba "trumpet," from a Gmc. source (cf. O.H.G. trumba "trumpet;" see trumpet).

tromp (v.) --- 1892, variant of tramp; mainly Amer.Eng.

trompe l'oeil --- 1889, from Fr., lit. "deceives the eye."

-tron --- as a suffix in new compounds formed in physics, 1939, abstracted from electron (Gk. -tron was an instrumentive suffix).

troop (n.) --- 1545, "body of soldiers," from M.Fr. troupe, from O.Fr. trope "band of people, company, troop" (13c.), probably from Frank. *throp "assembly, gathering of people" (cf. O.E. ðorp, O.N. thorp "village," see thorp). OED derives the O.Fr. word from L. troppus "flock," which is of unknown origin but may be from the Gmc. source. The verb is attested from 1565, "to assemble;" meaning "to march" is recorded from 1592; that of "to go in great numbers, to flock" is from 1610. Trooper "soldier in the cavalry" is first attested 1640; extended to "mounted policeman" (1858, in Australian) then to "state policeman" (U.S.) by 1911.

-trope --- comb. form meaning "that which turns," from Gk. tropos (see trope).

trope --- 1533, from L. tropus "a figure of speech," from Gk. tropos "turn, direction, turn or figure of speech," related to trope "a turning" and tropein "to turn," from PIE base trep- "to turn" (cf. Skt. trapate "is ashamed, confused," prop. "turns away in shame;" L. trepit "he turns"). Technically, in rhetoric, a figure of speech which consists in the use of a word or phrase in a sense other than that which is proper to it.

-trophy --- comb. form meaning "food, nourishment," from Gk. trophe "food, nourishment," related to trephein "to make solid, congeal, thicken."

trophy --- 1513, "a spoil or prize of war," from M.Fr. trophée (15c.) from L. trophæum "a sign of victory, monument," originally tropæum, from Gk. tropaion "monument of an enemy's defeat," from neut. of adj. tropaios "of defeat," from trope "a rout," originally "a turning" (of the enemy); see trope. Figurative extension to any token or memorial of victory is first recorded 1569. Trophy wife attested "by 1984," according to "Dictionary of American Slang."

tropic --- c.1391, "either of the two circles in the celestial sphere which describe the northernmost and southernmost points of the ecliptic," from L.L. tropicus "of or pertaining to the solstice" (as a noun, "one of the tropics"), from L. tropicus "pertaining to a turn," from Gk. tropikos "of or pertaining to a turn or change, or to the solstice" (as a noun, "the solstice"), from trope "a turning" (see trope). The notion is of the point at which the sun "turns back" after reaching its northernmost or southernmost point in the sky. Extended 1527 to the corresponding latitudes on the earth's surface (23 degrees 28 minutes north and south); meaning "region between these parallels" is from 1837. Tropical "hot and lush like the climate of the tropics" is first attested 1834.

tropism --- 1899, "tendency of an animal or plant to turn or move in response to a stimulus," abstracted from geotropism, ult. from Gk. tropos (see trope).

troposphere --- 1914, from Fr. troposphère, lit. "sphere of change," coined by Fr. meteorologist Philippe Teisserenc de Bort (1855-1913) from Gk. tropos "a turn, change" + sphaira "sphere."

trot (n.) --- c.1300, from O.Fr. trot (12c.), from troter "to trot, to go," from Frankish *trotton (cf. O.H.G. trotton "to tread"), from a variant of the Gmc. base of tread (q.v.). The verb is attested in Eng. from 1362. It. trottare, Sp. trotar also are borrowed from Gmc. To trot (something) out originally (1838) was in ref. to horses; fig. sense of "produce and display for admiration" is slang first recorded 1845. Trotter "foot of a quadruped" is first recorded 1522. The trots "diarrhea" is recorded from 1808 (cf. the runs).

troth --- c.1175, from a phonetic variant of O.E. treowð "faithfulness, truth" (see truth). Restricted to Midlands and Northern England dialect after 16c., and to certain archaic phrases (e.g. plight one's troth). Cf. also betroth.

troubadour --- 1727, from Fr. troubadour "one of a class of lyric poets in southern France, eastern Spain, and northern Italy 11c.-13c.," from O.Prov. trobador, from trobar "to find," earlier "invent a song, compose in verse," probably from V.L. *tropare "compose, sing," especially in the form of tropes, from L. tropus "a song" (see trope). The alternate theory among Fr. etymologists derives the O.Prov. word from a metathesis of L. turbare "to disturb," via a sense of "to turn up." Meanwhile, Arabists posit an origin in Arabic taraba "to sing." General sense of "one who composes or sings verses or ballads" first recorded 1826.

trouble (v.) --- c.1225, from O.Fr. trubler (11c.), metathesis of turbler, from V.L. *turbulare, from L.L. turbidare "to trouble, make turbid," from L. turbidus (see turbid). The noun is attested from c.1230; troublesome is attested by 1548. Troubled in ref. to waters, etc., is from 1388. A trouble-shooter (1905) was originally one who works on telegraph or telephone lines. The Troubles in ref. to times of violence and unrest in Ireland is attested from 1880, in ref. to the rebellion of 1641.

trough --- O.E. trog, from P.Gmc. *trugoz (cf. O.Fris., O.S., O.N. trog, M.Du. troch, Du. trog, O.H.G. troc, Ger. trog), perhaps ultimately from PIE *drukos, from base *dru- "wood, tree" (see tree). Originally pronounced in Eng. with a hard -gh- (as in Scottish loch); pronunciation shifted to -f-, but spelling remained.

trounce --- 1551, "to trouble, afflict, harass," later "to beat, thrash" (1568), of uncertain origin. Perhaps related to M.Fr. troncer "to cut, cut off a piece from," from tronce "piece of timber," from O.Fr. tronc (see trunk).

troupe --- 1825, "company, band," from Fr. troupe, from M.Fr. troupe "company" (see troop). Trouper is "actor or performer in a theatrical troupe;" transf. sense of "reliable, uncomplaining person" is attested from 1959 (but the first recorded reference describes the usage as "old-fashioned").

trousers --- 1612, earlier trouzes (1581), extended from trouse (1578), with plural ending typical of things in pairs, from Gaelic or Middle Irish triubhas "close-fitting shorts," of uncertain origin. The unexplained intrusive second -r- is perhaps by influence of drawers.

trousseau --- 1817, from Fr. trousseau, originally "a bundle," dim. of O.Fr. trousse "bundle" (see truss). Italicized as foreign at first, nativized by 1833. The O.Fr. form was borrowed into M.E. c.1225, but it fell from use.

trout --- O.E. truht "trout," in part from O.Fr. truite, both from L.L. tructa, perhaps from Gk. troktes "a kind of sea fish," lit. "nibbler," from trogein "to gnaw," from PIE base *tere- (see throw). In late 17c. slang, trusty trout was used in a sense of "confidential friend."

trove --- 1888, from treasure trove (1550), from Anglo-Fr. tresor trové (1190), translating L. thesaurus inventus, lit. "treasure found." Originally any precious metal object one finds hidden whose owner is unknown. As this usually meant ancient hordes, the term came to mean "treasure horde" in popular use. Rendered treasure found from 1467.

trow --- O.E. treowian "to trust, believe," from treow "faith, belief," from P.Gmc. *truwian (see true). Cognate with Ger. trauen.

trowel --- 1344, "tool for spreading plaster or mortar," from O.Fr. truele (13c.), from L.L. truella "small ladle, dipper" (1163), dim. of L. trua "a stirring spoon, ladle, skimmer." The gardening tool was so called since 1796.

troy --- 1390, standard system of weights for gems and precious metals, from Troyes, city in France (ancient Tricasses), former site of a fair at which this weight is said to have been used. Many medieval towns had their own standard weights. The pound troy contains 5,760 grains and is divided into 12 ounces.

truant (n.) --- c.1225 (implied in truandise), "beggar, vagabond," from O.Fr. truant "beggar, rogue" (12c.), from Gaulish *trougant- (cf. Breton *truan, later truant "vagabond," Welsh truan "wretch," Gaelic truaghan "wretched"). Cf. Sp. truhan "buffoon," from same source. Meaning "one who wanders from an appointed place" is first attested c.1449. The adj. is recorded from 1550.

truce --- c.1225, triws, variant of trewes, originally plural of trewe "faith, assurance of faith, covenant, treaty," from O.E. treow "faith, treaty," from P.Gmc. *trewwo (cf. O.Fris. triuwe, M.Du. trouwe, Du. trouw, O.H.G. triuwa, Ger. treue, Goth. triggwa "faith, faithfulness"). Related to O.E. treowe "faithful" (see true). The Gmc. word was borrowed into L.L. as tregua, hence Fr. trève, It. tregua. Trucial States, the pre-1971 name of the United Arab Emirates, is attested from 1891, in ref. to the 1835 maritime truce between Britain and the Arab sheiks of Oman.

truck (n.) --- vehicle, 1611, "small wheel" (especially one on which the carriages of a ship's guns were mounted), probably from L. trochus "iron hoop," from Gk. trokhos "wheel," from trekhein "to run" (see truckle (n.)). Sense extended to "cart for carrying heavy loads" (1774), then to "motor vehicle for carrying heavy loads" (1930), a shortened form of motor truck (1916). The verb, meaning "to convey on a truck," is recorded from 1809, from the noun. Verbal meaning "dance, move in a cool way," first attested 1935, from popular dance of that name in U.S., supposedly introduced at Cotton Club, 1933. Trucker is first attested 1853, "worker who moves loads using a cart;" the motorized version is from 1955, a shortening of truck driver (pre-1931). Truck stop is attested from 1961.

truck (v.) --- to exchange, barter, c.1225, from O.N.Fr. troquer "to barter, exchange," from M.L. trocare "barter," of unknown origin. Rare before 1580. Sense of "have dealings with" is first recorded 1615. The noun is first recorded 1553, "act or practice of barter." Sense of "vegetables raised for market" is from 1784, preserved in truck farm (1866).

truckle (n.) --- small wheel or roller, 1397, from Anglo-Fr. trocle, from L. trochlea "a small wheel, sheaf of a pulley," from Gk. trokhileia "a pulley," from trokhos "wheel," from trekhein "to run," from PIE base *dhregh- "to run" (cf. O.Ir. droch "wheel," Lith. pa-drosti "to run fast"). Truckle bed "small bed on wheels that can be stowed under a larger bed" is from 1459.

truckle (v.) --- give up or submit tamely, 1612, "sleep in a truckle bed" (see truckle (n.)). Meaning "give precedence, assume a submissive position" (1656, implied in truckling) is perhaps in allusion to that type of bed being used by servants and inferiors, or from it simply occupying the lower position.

truculent --- c.1540, from L. truculentus "fierce, savage," from trux (gen. trucis) "fierce, wild."

trudge --- to walk laboriously, 1547, of unknown origin. The noun meaning "an act of trudging" is attested from 1835.

true --- O.E. triewe (W.Saxon), treowe (Mercian) "faithful, trustworthy," from P.Gmc. *trewwjaz "having or characterized by good faith" (cf. O.Fris. triuwi, Du. getrouw, O.H.G. gatriuwu, Ger. treu, O.N. tryggr, Goth. triggws "faithful, trusty"), perhaps ultimately from PIE *dru- "tree," on the notion of "steadfast as an oak." Cf., from same root, Lith. drutas "firm," Welsh drud, O.Ir. dron "strong," Welsh derw "true," O.Ir. derb "sure." Sense of "consistent with fact" first recorded c.1205; that of "real, genuine, not counterfeit" is from 1398; that of "agreeing with a certain standard" (as true north) is from c.1550. Of artifacts, "accurately fitted or shaped" it is recorded from 1474; the verb in this sense is from 1841. Truism "self-evident truth" is from 1708, first attested in writings of Swift. True-love (adj.) is recorded from 1495; true-born first attested 1591. True-false as a type of test question is recorded from 1923.

truffle --- edible fungus, 1591, from M.Fr. trufle (1370), from O.Fr. truffe, probably from O.Prov. trufa, metathesized from L.L. tufera (pl.), cognate of L. tuber "edible root." Another theory notes It. tartuffo (Milanese tartuffel) "potato," supposedly from terræ tuber. Extended 1926 to powdered, round chocolates that look like truffles.

trull --- a low prostitute or concubine; a drab, strumpet, trollop [OED], 1519, from Ger. trulle, perhaps cognate with troll (n.), or perhaps from troll (v.), cf. M.H.G. trolle "awkward fellow."

trump (n.1) --- playing card of a suit ranking above others, 1529, alteration of triumph, name of a card game. The verb meaning "surpass, beat" is attested from 1586.

trump (n.2) --- trumpet, 1297, from O.Fr. trompe "long, tube-like musical wind instrument" (12c.), cognate with Prov. tromba, It. tromba, all probably from a Gmc. source (cf. O.H.G. trumpa and O.N. trumba "trumpet"), of imitative origin.

trump (v.) --- fabricate, devise, 1695, from trump "deceive, cheat" (1513), from M.E. trumpen (1375), from O.Fr. tromper "deceive," of uncertain origin, perhaps from a verb meaning "to blow a trumpet." Trumped up "false, concocted" first recorded 1728.

trumpery --- 1456, "deceit, trickery," from M.Fr. tromperie (14c.), from tromper "to deceive," of uncertain origin. Spelling influenced by trump (v.). Meaning "showy but worthless finery" is first recorded 1610.

trumpet (n.) --- c.1300, from O.Fr. trompette "trumpet," dim. of trompe (see trump (n.2)). The verb is recorded from 1530; fig. sense of "to proclaim, extol" is attested from 1581.

truncate --- 1486, from L. truncatus "cut off," pp. of truncare "to maim, cut off," from truncus "mutilated, cut off" (see trunk).

truncheon --- c.1300, "shaft of a spear," also "short stick, cudgel," from O.N.Fr. tronchon, O.Fr. tronchon (11c.) "a piece cut off, thick stick, stump," from V.L. *truncionem (nom. *truncio), from L. truncus (see trunk). Meaning "staff as a symbol of office" is recorded from 1575; sense of "policeman's club" is recorded from 1880.

trundle --- 1542 (implied in trundle bed "low bed on small wheels"), possibly from M.E. trendle "wheel, suspended hoop" (1324), from O.E. trendel "ring, disk" (see trend). Also probably in part from O.Fr. trondeler "to roll," which is of Gmc. origin.

trunk --- 1462, "box, case," from O.Fr. tronc "alms box in a church" (12c.), also "trunk of a tree, trunk of the human body," from L. truncus, originally "mutilated, cut off." The meaning "box, case" is likely to be from the notion of the body as the "case" of the organs. Eng. acquired the other two senses of the O.Fr. word later; sense of "main stem of a tree" dates from 1490; that of "torso of a human body" from 1494. The sense of "luggage compartment of a motor vehicle" is from 1930. The use in reference to an elephant's snout is from 1565, probably from confusion with trump (short for trumpet). Railroad trunk line is attested from 1843; telephone version is from 1889.

trunnion --- 1625, "either of two round projections of a cannon," from Fr. trognon "core of fruit, stump, tree trunk," from M.Fr. troignon (14c.), probably, from L. truncus (see trunk).

truss (n.) --- c.1200, "collection of things bound together," from O.Fr. trousse, torse, of unknown origin, perhaps from V.L. *torciare "to twist." Meaning "surgical appliance to support a rupture, etc." first attested 1543. Sense of "framework for supporting a roof or bridge" is first recorded 1654. The verb is attested from c.1225, from O.Fr. trusser "to load, pack, fasten" (11c.).

trust (n.) --- c.1200, from O.N. traust "help, confidence," from P.Gmc. *traust- (cf. O.Fris. trast, Du. troost "comfort, consolation," O.H.G. trost "trust, fidelity," Ger. Trost "comfort, consolation," Goth. trausti "agreement, alliance"). Related to O.E. treowian "to believe, trust," and treowe "faithful, trusty" (see true). Meaning "businesses organized to reduce competition" is recorded from 1877. The verb (c.1225) is from O.N. treysta "to trust." Trust-buster is recorded from 1903. Trustee in the sense of "person who is responsible for the property of another" is attested from 1653. Trustworthy is first attested 1808.

trusty (adj.) --- c.1225, "trusting," from trust; meaning "reliable, to be counted on" is from c.1310. The noun meaning "a prisoner granted special privileges as reward for good conduct" is first attested 1855.

truth --- O.E. triewð (W.Saxon), treowð (Mercian) "faithfulness, quality of being true," from triewe, treowe "faithful" (see true). Meaning "accuracy, correctness" is from 1570. Unlike lie (v.), there is no primary verb in Eng. for "speak the truth." Noun sense of "something that is true" is first recorded c.1362.

try --- c.1300, "examine judiciously, sit in judgment of," from Anglo-Fr. trier (c.1290), from O.Fr. trier "to pick out, cull" (12c.), from Gallo-Romance *triare, of unknown origin. The ground sense is "separate out (the good) by examination." Meaning "to test" is first recorded c.1362; that of "attempt to do" is from early 14c. Sense of "to subject to some strain" (of patience, endurance, etc.) is recorded from 1539. Trying "distressing" is first attested 1718. Try-out "trial of skill or ability" first recorded 1903. To try (something) on for size in the fig. sense is recorded from 1956.

tryst --- c.1375, from O.Fr. tristre "appointed station in hunting," possibly from a Scand. source (cf. O.N. treysta "to trust;" see trust).

tsar --- 1670, the more correct Latinization of Rus. czar, from prehistoric Slavic *tsesar, from a Gmc. source, ultimately from L. Caesar. See czar.

tsetse fly --- 1849, probably via S.African Du., from a Bantu language (cf. Setswana tsetse, Luyia tsiisi "flies").

T-shirt --- 1920, in allusion to the shape it makes when laid out flat.

tsk --- sound expressing commisseration or disapproval, 1947; as a verb, tsk-tsk is recorded from 1967.

Tso --- Chinese restaurant dish, named for General Tso Tsungtang (1812-1885), military leader during the late Qing dynasty who crushed the Taiping rebels in four provinces. The chicken dish that bears his name (for no good reason) in Chinese restaurants apparently is modified from a traditional Hunan chung ton gai and may have been named for the general c.1972 by a chef in New York City during the time Hunan cuisine first became popular among Americans.

tsunami --- 1897, from Japanese tsunami, from tsu "harbor" + nami "waves."

tu quoque --- 1671, from L., lit. "thou also" (or, in modern slang, "so are you!"); an argument which consists in retorting accusations.

tuatara --- New Zealand lizard, 1890, from Maori, from tua "on the back" + tara "spine."

Tuatha de Danann --- 1682, from Ir. Tuatha dé Danann, lit. "the people of Danann," from pl. of tuath (see Teutonic) + Danann, mother of the gods.

tub --- open wooden vessel, c.1386, from M.L.G., M.Du., or M.Flem. tubbe, of uncertain origin. Related to O.H.G. zubar "vessel with two handles, wine vessel," Ger. Zuber. Considered to be unrelated to L. tubus (see tube); one theory connects it to the root of two based on the number of handles. Also 17c. slang for "pulpit;" hence tub-thumper (1662) "speaker or preacher who thumps the pulpit for emphasis."

tuba --- 1852, from Fr. tuba, from L. tuba (pl. tubæ) "straight bronze war trumpet," related to tubus (see tube).

tubby (adj.) --- shaped like a tub, corpulent, 1835, from tub. The noun meaning "a fat person" is attested from 1891.

tube --- 1611, from M.Fr. tube (1460), from L. tubus "tube, pipe," of unknown origin. The London subway was christened the Twopenny Tube before it even opened (H.D. Browne, in the "Londoner" of June 30, 1900); tube for "cylindrical railway tunnel" is attested from 1847. The meaning "TV as a medium" is from 1959, short for cathode ray tube or picture tube. Tube top as a women's clothing style is attested from 1972. Tubular is attested from 1673, "having the form of a tube or pipe," but the modern slang sense is from 1982, Valspeak, from surfers' slang for a hollow, curling wave, ideal for riding. Tube steak is attested from 1963 as "frankfurter," slang meaning "penis" is recorded by mid-1980s. Tubing as a recreational pastime is recorded from 1975.

tuber --- thick underground stem, 1668, from L. tuber "lump, bump," perhaps related to tumere "to swell" (see thigh).

tuberculosis --- 1860, from Mod.L., from L. tuberculum "small swelling, pimple," dim. of tuber "lump" (see tuber) + -osis, a suffix of Gk. origin. So called in ref. to the tubercules (1678) which form in the lungs. Originally in ref. to any disease characterized by tubercules; since the discovery of the tubercule bacillus by Koch (1882) restricted to disease caused by this.

tuck (v.) --- c.1385, "to pull or gather up," earlier "to pluck, stretch" (1273, implied in tucker), probably from M.L.G. or M.Du. tucken "pull up, draw up, tug" (cognate with O.E. tucian "mistreat, torment," and related to O.E. togian "to pull," Ger. zucken; see tow). Sense of "thrust into a snug place" is first recorded 1587. Slang meaning "to consume, swallow" is recorded from 1784. The noun is first attested 1387.

tuckahoe --- edible plant root, 1612, Amer.Eng., from Powhatan (Algonquian) tockawhoughe (cf. Mohegan tquogh, Shawnee tukwhah), perhaps related to Cree (Algonquian) pitikwaw "made round."

tucker (1) --- piece of lace worn around the neck, 1688, from M.E. tokker "tucker, one who dresses or finishes cloth" (see tuck).

tucker (2) --- to tire, weary, 1833, New England slang, of uncertain origin, perhaps from tucked (pp. of tuck (v.)), which had, in ref. to dogs, a slang sense of "exhausted, underfed."

Tucson --- city in Arizona, U.S.A., from Sp. Tucson, from O'odham (Piman) cukson "black base."

-tude --- Latinate suffix forming abstract nouns from adjectives and participles (corresponding to native -ness), from Fr. -tude, from L. -tudo (gen. -tudinis). As a word in its own right, teenager slang shortening of attitude, it dates from 1970s.

Tudor --- 1779, from Welsh surname Tewdwr, used of the line of Eng. sovereigns from Henry VII to Elizabeth I, descended from Owen Tudor, who married Catherine, widowed queen of Henry V. Applied from 1815 to a style of architecture prevalent during these reigns. The name is the Welsh form of Theodore.

Tuesday --- O.E. Tiwesdæg, from Tiwes, gen. of Tiw "Tiu," from P.Gmc. *Tiwaz "god of the sky," differentiated specifically as Tiu, ancient Gmc. god of war, from PIE base *dyeu- "to shine" (see diurnal). Cf. O.N. tysdagr, Swed. tisdag, O.H.G. ziestag. The day name (second element dæg, see day) is a translation of L. dies Martis (cf. It. martedi, Fr. Mardi) "Day of Mars," from the Roman god of war, who was identified with Gmc. Tiw (though etymologically Tiw is related to Zeus), itself a loan-translation of Gk. Areos hemera. In cognate Ger. Dienstag and Du. Dinstag, the first element would appear to be Gmc. ding, þing "public assembly," but it is now thought to be from Thinxus, one of the names of the war-god in L. inscriptions.

tufa --- a porous rock, 1770, from It. tufa, from L. tophus "loose, porous volcanic rock," an Oscan-Umbrian loan-word.