(toil) noun
1. Fatiguing work; labor; hence, any oppressive task.
2. Any notable work accomplished by labor.
3. Obs. Strife; struggle.
—v.i.
1. To work arduously; labor painfully and tiringly.
2. To progress or make one's way with slow and labored steps.
—v.t.
3. To accomplish or obtain by toil. See synonyms under STRUGGLE. [<AF toil a dispute, OF tooil trouble <AF toiler strive, OF tooillier soil, agitate <L tudiculare stir about <tudicula a machine for bruising olives, dim. of tudes a mallet]
—toil′er noun Synonyms (noun): drudgery, labor, stent, stint, task, travail, work. Work is exertion of body or mind that taxes the powers for the accomplishment of some end. The term is a broad one; work may be light and pleasant, or severe and exhausting. Labor is always strenuous; it is hard work. Toil is still more severe. One may enjoy work and be cheerful in labor, but toil oppresses. Drudgery is often applied to menial service, but also to any work that is not only hard, but dull and mechanical. A task is a definite amount of work appointed and required by another; yet we sometimes speak of a task which one imposes upon himself; this in popular language is called a stint or stent. See TASK, WORK. Antonyms: amusement, ease, idleness, leisure, play, recreation, relaxation, repose, rest.

(toil) noun
A net, snare, or other trap: now generally used figuratively and commonly in the plural. [<MF toiles nets <toile cloth <OF teile <L tela a web]