5  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Toil  \Toil\,  n.  [F.  toiles,  pl.,  toils,  nets,  fr  toile  cloth, 
  canvas,  spider  web,  fr  L.  tela  any  woven  stuff,  a  web,  fr 
  texere  to  weave.  See  {Text},  and  cf  {Toilet}.] 
  A  net  or  snare;  any  thread,  web,  or  string  spread  for  taking 
  prey;  --  usually  in  the  plural. 
 
  As  a  Numidian  lion,  when  first  caught,  Endures  the  toil 
  that  holds  him  --Denham. 
 
  Then  toils  for  beasts,  and  lime  for  birds,  were  found 
  --Dryden. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Toil  \Toil\,  v.  i.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Toiled};  p.  pr  &  vb  n. 
  {Toiling}.]  [OE.  toilen  to  pull  about  to  toil;  of  uncertain 
  origin;  cf  OD  teulen,  tuylen  to  labor,  till,  or  OF 
  tooillier  toailler  to  wash,  rub  (cf.  {Towel});  or  perhaps 
  ultimately  from  the  same  root  as  E.  tug.] 
  To  exert  strength  with  pain  and  fatigue  of  body  or  mind, 
  especially  of  the  body,  with  efforts  of  some  continuance  or 
  duration;  to  labor;  to  work 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Toil  \Toil\,  v.  t. 
  1.  To  weary;  to  overlabor.  [Obs.]  ``Toiled  with  works  of 
  war.''  --Shak. 
 
  2.  To  labor;  to  work  --  often  with  out  [R.] 
 
  Places  well  toiled  and  husbanded.  --Holland. 
 
  [I]  toiled  out  my  uncouth  passage.  --Milton. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Toil  \Toil\,  n.  [OE.  toil  turmoil,  struggle;  cf  OD  tuyl  labor, 
  work  See  {Toil},  v.] 
  Labor  with  pain  and  fatigue;  labor  that  oppresses  the  body  or 
  mind,  esp.  the  body. 
 
  My  task  of  servile  toil.  --Milton. 
 
  After  such  bloody  toil,  we  bid  good  night.  --Shak. 
 
  Note:  Toil  is  used  in  the  formation  of  compounds  which  are 
  generally  of  obvious  signification;  as  toil-strung, 
  toil-wasted,  toil-worn,  and  the  like 
 
  Syn:  Labor;  drudgery;  work  exertion;  occupation;  employment; 
  task;  travail. 
 
  Usage:  {Toil},  {Labor},  {Drudgery}.  Labor  implies  strenuous 
  exertion,  but  not  necessary  such  as  overtasks  the 
  faculties;  toil  denotes  a  severity  of  labor  which  is 
  painful  and  exhausting;  drudgery  implies  mean  and 
  degrading  work  or  at  least,  work  which  wearies  or 
  disgusts  from  its  minuteness  or  dull  uniformity. 
 
  You  do  not  know  the  heavy  grievances,  The  toils, 
  the  labors,  weary  drudgeries,  Which  they  impose. 
  --Southern. 
 
  How  often  have  I  blessed  the  coming  day  When 
  toil  remitting  lent  its  turn  to  play. 
  --Goldsmith. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  toil 
  n  :  productive  work  (especially  physical  work  done  for  wages); 
  "his  labor  did  not  require  a  great  deal  of  skill"  [syn:  {labor}, 
  {labour}] 
  v  :  work  hard;  "She  was  digging  away  at  her  math  homework"  [syn: 
  {labor},  {labour},  {fag},  {travail},  {grind},  {drudge}, 
  {dig},  {moil}] 

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