Etymology From Middle English trillen, from Italian trillo, trillare. Compare German trillern, Norwegian trille, Swedish trilla.
1
Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music 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.
2
Human sciences, Linguistics, Phonetics, Phonology, Sciences A type of consonantal sound that is produced by vibrations of the tongue against the place of articulation: for example, Spanish ⟨rr⟩, /r/.
3
A tremulous high-pitched vocal sound produced by cats.
Etymology From Middle English trillen, from Italian trillo, trillare. Compare German trillern, Norwegian trille, Swedish trilla.
1
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:
2
To impart the quality of a trill to; to utter as, or with, a trill.
to trill a note, or the letter r
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:
All my trill niggas know who be bringin da funk / Lees and shell toes like it's Black History Month2007, “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:
1 more example
Middle finger to the critics, me and my nigga Skrillex / You know we finna kill it, A$AP we the trillest2013, “Wild for the Night”, performed by A$AP Rocky:
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:
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]:
1 more example
Whisper'd sounds / Of waters, trilling from the riven stone.
trill
verb
Etymology Probably related to Old English þweran (“to twirl, stir”). Compare twirl, thirl, and Swedish trilla, Norwegian trille, etc.