noun

1. a large, baglike net dragged by a boat along the bottom of a fishing bank
   also trawlnet trawl′·net′
2. ☆ a long line supported by buoys, from which many short fishing lines are hung
   also trawl line
3. Chiefly Brit. a thorough search

Etymology: < ? MDu traghel, dragnet < ? L tragula: see trail

transitive verb, intransitive verb

1. to fish or catch with a trawl
2. Chiefly Brit. to make a thorough search (of): often with through to trawl a biography for telling anecdotes