“Trogle” is one of the most obscure terms in this entire collection, rare enough that we couldn’t verify a clear documented origin for it. The word bears an obvious resemblance to “troglodyte,” from Greek roots referring to a cave-dweller, and that connection is the most plausible explanation available: a trogle of snakes as a group sheltering in a cave, burrow, or other hidden underground space.
That underlying behavior is well established even if the word itself is obscure. Many snake species rely heavily on underground or enclosed shelters, natural crevices, abandoned burrows dug by other animals, spaces beneath rocks and logs, both for temperature regulation and protection from predators. These hideouts can end up hosting more than one snake at a time, especially when good shelter is scarce relative to the local snake population.
We’d rather tell you plainly that the word’s history is thin than invent a tidier story for it.
Example: “Under the old stone wall, we found what the property owner called a trogle of snakes.”
Related: Collective Nouns for Reptiles · What Is a Group of Snakes Called?