trolley

Sometimes trol·ly

[trol-ee]

noun

plural

trolleys 

1. trolley car.

2. a pulley or truck traveling on an overhead track and serving to support and move a suspended object.

3. a grooved metallic wheel or pulley carried on the end of a pole trolley pole by an electric car or locomotive, and held in contact with an overhead conductor, usually a suspended wire trolley wire, from which it collects the current for the propulsion of the car or locomotive.

4. any of various devices for collecting current for such a purpose, as a pantograph, or a bowlike structure bow trolley sliding along an overhead wire, or a device underground trolley for taking current from the underground wire or conductor used by some electric railways.

5. a small truck or car operated on a track, as in a mine or factory.

6. a serving cart, as one used to serve desserts.

7. Chiefly British.,  any of various low carts or vehicles, as a railway handcar or costermonger's cart.

verb (used with or without object)

trolleyed, trolleying 

1. to convey or go by trolley.

trolley

/ ˈtrɒlɪ /

noun

1. a small table on casters used for conveying food, drink, etc

2. a wheeled cart or stand pushed by hand and used for moving heavy items, such as shopping in a supermarket or luggage at a railway station

3. (in a hospital) a bed mounted on casters and used for moving patients who are unconscious, immobilized, etc

4. See trolleybus

5. See trolley car

6. a device that collects the current from an overhead wire ( trolley wire ), third rail, etc, to drive the motor of an electric vehicle

7. a pulley or truck that travels along an overhead wire in order to support a suspended load

8. a low truck running on rails, used in factories, mines, etc, and on railways

9. a truck, cage, or basket suspended from an overhead track or cable for carrying loads in a mine, quarry, etc

10. slang

    1. mentally confused or disorganized

    2. insane

verb

1. (tr) to transport (a person or object) on a trolley

Word History and Origins

Origin of trolley¹

First recorded in 1815–25; originally dialect; apparently akin to troll ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of trolley¹

C19: probably from _troll ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. off one's trolley,

   1. in a confused mental state.

   2. insane.

      He's been off his trolley for years, but his family refuses to have him committed.

see off one's head (trolley).

Example Sentences

It was so large that it took two servants on each side and one in the back to push the enormous wheeled trolley that bore this confection out of the kitchen.

Read more on Literature

The charity's business development manager, Emma Martin, said one mother was forced to use a shopping trolley to take her child to a health appointment, which was "just absolutely unacceptable".

Read more on BBC

His father worked for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, driving trolleys and, later, buses.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It said the airport's baby rooms were "designed to meet the needs of all passengers, with enough space for those travelling with luggage trolleys."

Read more on BBC

When it comes to the necessities, Virginia Beach ranks high with terrific healthcare options, thoughtfully designed transportation – including surreys and trolleys – and more than 200 miles of bikeways and trails.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• disk 
• drum 
• roller