trotline

[trot-lahyn]

noun

a strong fishing line strung across a stream, or deep into a river, having individual hooks attached by smaller lines at intervals.

Origin of trotline

1825–35; perhaps trot¹ + line¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for trotline

Historical Examples of trotline

No nibbles on the trotline last night, but a huge fish heaved his side out of the water just now.
The houseboat book
William F. Waugh

British Dictionary definitions for trotline

trotline

noun

angling a long line suspended across a stream, river, etc, to which shorter hooked and baited lines are attachedCompare trawl (def. 2) See also setline

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012