Toll
/toʊl/noun
A charge payable to use a bridge or road.
Did you know?Originally, 'toll' comes from the Old English 'toll', referring to a payment made for a service, often linked to rituals or access to sacred spaces.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*tallō
“A payment or tribute, often involving sacrifices or offerings.”
Old English
OE
toll
“A fee for passage or service, often collected at gates or bridges.”
Middle English
ME
toll
“A charge for using roads or bridges, often seen as a burden.”
14th Century
English
toll
“A formal charge, often linked to public works or royal grants.”
Modern English
English
toll
“A charge for usage, particularly in transport, reflecting historical fees.”