Definition

Noun: 1. A person who collects tolls: A toller is someone whose job is to collect fees, typically for the use of a road, bridge, or ferry. 2. A person who rings bells: A toller is someone who rings bells, especially church bells, often to signal an event or summon people.

Usage Examples

• As a fee collector:
  • The toller at the bridge collected the fare from each passing car.
  • Before the new automated system, a toller worked in every booth.
• As a bell ringer:
  • The church toller rang the bell to mark the beginning of the service.
  • He served as the village toller, ringing the bell for both celebrations and emergencies.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in historical or specific contexts, as many toll collection points are now automated and bell-ringing is often done by volunteers or campanologists rather than a designated "toller."

Variants and Related Words

• Toll (noun/verb): The fee charged or the action of ringing a bell slowly and repeatedly.
• Tollbooth (noun): A booth or station where a toll is paid.
• Bell-ringer (noun): A more common synonym for a person who rings bells.

Synonyms

• For fee collector: Collector, toll collector, gatekeeper.
• For bell ringer: Bell-ringer, campanologist (specialist), sexton (a church officer who may have this duty).

Notes on Different Meanings

The two primary meanings of "toller" are distinct and relate to the two main meanings of the verb "to toll": 1. To toll can mean to charge a fee. 2. To toll can mean to ring a bell with slow, steady strokes. A "toller" is a person who performs either of these actions.

Noun

1. someone employed to collect tolls
2. a person who rings church bells (as for summoning the congregation)