gall

¹gall

noun \ˈgȯl\

Definition of GALL

1

a : bile; especially : bile obtained from an animal and used in the arts or medicine

b : something bitter to endure

c : bitterness of spirit : rancor

2

: brazen boldness coupled with impudent assurance and insolence

Origin of GALL

Middle English, from Old English gealla; akin to Greek cholē, cholos gall, wrath, Old English geolu yellow — more at yellow

First Known Use: before 12th century

Rhymes with GALL

all, awl, ball, bawl, brawl, call, caul, crawl, doll, drawl, fall, hall, haul, kraal, mall, maul, moll, pall, pawl, Saul, scall, scrawl, shawl, small, spall, sprawl, squall, stall, tall, thrall, trawl, wall, yawl

²gall

noun

Definition of GALL

1

a : a skin sore caused by chronic irritation

b : a cause or state of exasperation

2

archaic : flaw

Origin of GALL

Middle English galle, from Old English gealla, from Latin galla gallnut

First Known Use: before 12th century

³gall

verb

Definition of GALL

transitive verb

1

: to fret and wear away by friction : chafe <the loose saddle galled the horse's back> <the galling of a metal bearing>

2

: irritate, vex <sarcasm galls her>

intransitive verb

1

: to become sore or worn by rubbing

2

: seize 2

Examples of GALL

1. It galls me that such a small group of people can have so much power.
2. <move that rope so the sharp edge of the hull doesn't gall it>

First Known Use of GALL

14th century

Related to GALL

Synonyms

chafe, corrade, erode, fray, frazzle, fret, abrade, rasp, rub, wear

Related Words

file, gnaw, grate, graze, grind, nibble, sandblast, sandpaper, scour, scrape, scuff, shave; erase, reduce, rub out, wear out, wipe (away); bite, break down, break up, chew, corrode, decompose, disintegrate, dissolve, eat; hone, sharpen, whet

Near Antonyms

appease, conciliate, mollify, oblige, pacify, placate, propitiate; delight, gladden, gratify, please, satisfy; assure, cheer, comfort, console, content, quiet, reassure, solace, soothe

⁴gall

noun

Definition of GALL

: an abnormal outgrowth of plant tissue usually due to insect or mite parasites or fungi and sometimes forming an important source of tannin — see gall wasp illustration

Origin of GALL

Middle English galle, from Anglo-French, from Latin galla

First Known Use: 14th century

gall

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Abnormal, localized outgrowth or swelling of plant tissue caused by infection from bacteria, fungi, viruses, or nematodes, or by irritation by insects and mites. The common plant disease crown gall, characterized by the proliferation of galls on the roots and lower stems, is caused by the bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens.