An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/trollen

by Friedrich Kluge

trollen, verb, ‘to roll about, loll, trip,’ from Middle High German trollen, ‘to run with short steps’; perhaps allied to Middle High German trolle, ‘booby, uncouth person’ (literally ‘ghost-like monster’). French trôler, ‘to stroll about,’ is a German loan-word.