What does trawl mean?
Trawl originally describes a method of fishing in which a large net is dragged through the water, usually across or near the sea floor. The verb has long since developed a broader figurative meaning: to search through a large quantity of information or material in a thorough, persistent, and sometimes indiscriminate way. Thus, someone may trawl old records, a website, or an online catalogue for relevant details. The expression “trawl the Internet” has become especially common in discussions of online research and is sometimes used critically to suggest an inefficient search through an overwhelming amount of data. In its original maritime sense, trawling refers to an established fishing method associated with trawl nets and trawlers. The word is useful because it links a concrete agricultural practice with the modern experience of searching expansive digital collections.
A large net or fishing apparatus dragged through the water, typically along or near the sea floor, to catch fish or other marine life; by extension, an exhaustive search.
"The net was damaged after the trawl snagged on an unseen reef."
The physical net is often called a trawl net, while a vessel designed for this fishing method is a trawler.
To search through a large body of information, material, or territory thoroughly; also, to fish by dragging a trawl through the water.
"She trawled several databases before finding the original report."
Figurative use often emphasizes persistence and exhaustiveness, and can imply that the search is inefficient or indiscriminate.
The plural is used for multiple fishing nets or trawling operations; in figurative use, it refers to separate exhaustive searches.
"Several careful trawls of the catalogue eventually uncovered the missing records."
A bottom trawl is deliberately dragged across the sea floor, turning fishing into a sweeping sweep of the deep.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does trawl come from?
The word entered Middle English from Middle Dutch, where it referred to a net dragged through the water to catch fish. In English, it developed both as a noun for the fishing apparatus and as a verb for dragging a net and, later, searching through material or information. The ultimate origin of the Middle Dutch word is uncertain, so it would be unsafe to assign it to a more distant root with confidence.
Related word forms
How trawl is actually used
In fishing, trawl usually denotes the net, method, or operation, while a fishing vessel using one is a trawler. Figurative uses often carry a slightly critical implication of indiscriminate, laborious, or overly exhaustive searching.
Easily confused with trawl
A trail is a path or route, whereas a trawl is a fishing net or, as a verb, an exhaustive search.