From Middle English trillen, from Italian trillo, trillare. Compare German trillern, Norwegian trille, Swedish trilla.
Meanings
A rapid alternation between an indicated note and the one above it as an ornament; in musical notation usually indicated with the letters tr written above the staff.
A type of consonantal sound that is produced by vibrations of the tongue against the place of articulation: for example, Spanish ⟨rr⟩, /r/.
A tremulous high-pitched vocal sound produced by cats.
From Middle English trillen, from Italian trillo, trillare. Compare German trillern, Norwegian trille, Swedish trilla.
Meanings
(intransitive) To create a trill sound; to utter trills or a trill; to play or sing in tremulous vibrations of sound; to have a trembling sound; to quaver.
To judge of trilling notes and tripping feet. 1692, John Dryden, Cleomenes, the Spartan Hero, a Tragedy:
(transitive) To impart the quality of a trill to; to utter as, or with, a trill.
The sober-suited songstress trills her lay. a. 1749 (date written), James Thomson, “Summer”, in The Seasons, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, and sold by Thomas Cadell, […], published 1768, →OCLC:
mi whakahoho (to make a tremulous sound) · mi wanawana (to make a tremulous sound) · cs trylkovat (to make a tremulous sound) · de trillern (to make a tremulous sound) · fr triller (to make a tremulous sound)
trill en · VERB · etymology 2
Etymology
Perhaps identical to Etymology 3, but compare the same sense of drill, and German trillen, drillen.
Meanings
(intransitive, obsolete) To trickle.
I come now from seeing of a shepheard at Medoc[…]who had no signe at all of genitorie parts: But where they should be, are three little holes, by which his water doth continually tril from him. 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 30, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:
Whisper'd sounds / Of waters, trilling from the riven stone.
And now and then an ample tear trilled down / Her delicate cheek. c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]:
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
trilling
Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
trilled
Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
trilled
Tense=Past
lexicographic
trills
Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
trill en · VERB · etymology 3
Etymology
Probably related to Old English þweran (“to twirl, stir”). Compare twirl, thirl, and Swedish trilla, Norwegian trille, etc.
All my trill niggas know who be bringin da funk / Lees and shell toes like it's Black History Month 2007, “Black History Month”, in The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust!, performed by Saul Williams:
LAMAR: Oh, really? That's a nice change from fools comin' up on us. / FRANKLIN: That's trill, homie. / LAMAR: You damn straight that's trill, partner, but it's a shame I don't believe it. You wanna drop some notes on that shit, I'll give you the odds, homie. 2013, Grand Theft Auto V, Rockstar Games, level/area: Repossession:
Middle finger to the critics, me and my nigga Skrillex / You know we finna kill it, A$AP we the trillest 2013, “Wild for the Night”, performed by A$AP Rocky: