Pronunciation: [tɹˈɔːl nˈɛt] (IPA) 
The word "trawl net" refers to a type of fishing net that is dragged behind a boat to catch fish. Its spelling can be broken down into two parts: "trawl" is spelled /trɔːl/ with the "tr" blend pronounced as /tr/, and "l" is pronounced as /l/. "Net" is spelled as /net/, with the "n" pronounced as /n/ and the "e" pronounced as /ɛ/. Putting the two parts together, "trawl net" is pronounced as /trɔːl net/.
A trawl net is a type of fishing net that is specifically designed to be dragged along the bottom of a body of water to catch fish and other marine organisms. It consists of a large bottom-opening mesh net that is attached to a pair of long ropes or cables, usually called trawl warps, and held open horizontally by mouth-boards or doors at the front and a series of floats at the top. The net's mouth or opening is wide and cylindrical in shape, usually wider at the front and tapering towards the back, allowing it to scoop up fish and other creatures as it is pulled through the water.
Trawl nets are commonly used by commercial fishermen to catch large quantities of fish in open waters, such as oceans and lakes. They are generally towed behind a fishing vessel, with the mouth of the net held open by the doors and floats, as the boat moves forward. The net is dragged along the seafloor, effectively catching fish that swim in its path.
Trawl nets can vary in size and design, depending on the target species and fishing method. They can be several meters wide and can reach depths of up to several hundred meters. The captured fish and marine organisms are retained in the net until the fishing vessel hauls the net onto the deck, where the catch is sorted and processed.
Overall, trawl nets are an important tool in commercial fishing, enabling the efficient capture of fish and other marine organisms on a large scale. They have contributed significantly to the global fishing industry and the availability of seafood to meet the demand.
The word "trawl" in "trawl net" comes from the Middle Low German word "trālen", which means to "drag or trail". Trālen was derived from the Old French word "traler" or "trail", which has the same meaning. "Trawl" was originally used as a verb, referring to the act of dragging or trailing a net along the seabed to catch fish. Over time, "trawl" started to be used as a noun to describe the type of net used for this purpose, hence the term "trawl net".
