Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×
1

gall

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
  • had the gall to think that he could replace her

Origin and Etymology of gall

Middle English galle, going back to Old English gealla, galla, going back to Germanic *gallōn-, galla- (whence Old High German & Old Saxon galla, Old Norse gall), going back to Indo-European *ǵholh3-n- (whence, without the suffix, Greek cholḗ "bile, bitter hatred," chólos "bitter hatred, wrath," Avestan zāra- "bile"), a derivative of *ǵhelh3- "green, yellow" — more at 1yellow
Note: The sense "boldness," first attested in the U.S. in the second half of the 19th century, is perhaps of independent origin.

Synonym Discussion of gall

temerity, audacity, hardihood, effrontery, nerve, cheek, gall, chutzpah mean conspicuous or flagrant boldness. temerity suggests boldness arising from rashness and contempt of danger.
    • had the temerity to refuse
audacity implies a disregard of restraints commonly imposed by convention or prudence.
    • an entrepreneur with audacity and vision
hardihood suggests firmness in daring and defiance.
    • admired for her hardihood
effrontery implies shameless, insolent disregard of propriety or courtesy.
    • outraged at his effrontery
nerve, cheek, gall, and chutzpah are informal equivalents for effrontery.
    • the nerve of that guy
    • has the cheek to call herself a singer
    • had the gall to demand proof
    • the chutzpah needed for a career in show business
2

gall

noun

Definition of gall

1 a : a skin sore caused by chronic irritation
b : a cause or state of exasperation
2 archaic : flaw

Origin and Etymology of gall

Middle English galle "sore on the skin, stain, evil, barren or wet spot in a field (in names)," probably in part going back to Anglian Old English *galla (West Saxon gealla) "sore on the skin of a horse," in part borrowed from Middle Low German galle "swelling in a joint, blastodisc, barren place," both nouns going back to Germanic *gallan- (whence also Old Norse galli "fault, flaw"), perhaps going back to an Indo-European base *ǵholH-, whence, from the derivative *ǵholH-r-, Norwegian galder "windgall," Old Irish galar "disease, pain," Welsh galar "mourning, grief"
Note: Perhaps additionally connected are Lithuanian žalà "harm, damage" (from *ǵholH-eh2), Hittite kallar "nefarious thing, demon" (from *ǵholH-ro-), Old Church Slavic zŭlŭ "bad, evil" (from zero-grade *ǵhlH-o-). According to an older hypothesis the Germanic words are a borrowing from Latin galla "gallnut, oak apple" (see 4gall), but given the wide distribution and range of meanings of the Germanic words, this appears unlikely.

3

gall

verb

Definition of gall

galled; galling; galls
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

See gall defined for English-language learners

Examples of gall in a Sentence

  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

Origin and Etymology of gall

Middle English gallen, in part derivative of galle 2gall, in part borrowed from Middle French galer "to scratch, rub, mount an attack on," derivative of gale "gallnut, callus," borrowed from Latin galla 4gall

gall Synonyms

Synonyms

aggravate, annoy, bother, bug, burn (up), chafe, eat, exasperate, frost, get, grate, gripe, hack (off), irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, persecute, pique, put out, rasp, rile, ruffle, spite, vex;

Near Antonyms

appease, conciliate, mollify, oblige, pacify, placate, propitiate;

delight, gladden, gratify, please, satisfy;

assure, cheer, comfort, console, content, quiet, reassure, solace, soothe;

Related Words

hassle, heckle;

nag;

inflame (also enflame), provoke, rouse;

badger, bait, bullyrag (also ballyrag), devil, hagride, harass, harry, pester, plague, tease;

anger, antagonize, enrage, incense, infuriate, madden, rankle, roil;

agitate, discomfort, discompose, disquiet, distress, exercise, freak (out), fret, perturb, undo, unhinge, unsettle, upset, worry;

affront, insult, miff, offend, outrage;

Phrases

get one's goat, get on one's nerves, get to, rub the wrong way, set one's teeth on edge, stick in one's craw, wear on;

4

gall

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 and Etymology of gall

Middle English galle, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin galla "gallnut, oak apple," of obscure origin
Note: Latin galla cannot be akin to 2gall if the latter does in fact descend from Indo-European *ǵholH-, and in any case the basic meaning of galla appears to be "excrescence" rather than "sore, blight."

GALL Defined for English Language Learners

gall

verb

Definition of gall for English Language Learners

  • : to make (someone) feel annoyed or angry

GALL Defined for Kids

1

gall

noun \ ˈgȯl \

Definition of gall for Students

1 : extreme boldness or rudeness
  • She had the gall to return my gift.
2 : bile especially when obtained from an animal for use in the arts or medicine
2

gall

noun

Definition of gall for Students

: a sore spot (as on a horse's back) caused by rubbing
3

gall

verb

Definition of gall for Students

galled; galling
1 : to make sore by rubbing
2 : to annoy or make angry
  • His selfishness just galls me.
4

gall

noun

Definition of gall for Students

: an abnormal swelling or growth on a twig or leaf

Medical Dictionary

1

gall

noun \ ˈgȯl \

medical Definition of gall

: bile; especially : bile obtained from an animal and used in the arts or medicine
2

gall

noun

medical Definition of gall

: a skin sore caused by chronic irritation
3

gall

transitive verb

medical Definition of gall

: to rub and wear away by friction : chafe
  • the loose saddle galled the horse's back
4

gall

noun

medical Definition of gall

: a swelling of plant tissue usually due to fungi or insect parasites and sometimes forming an important source of tannin

Learn More about gall

  1. See words that rhyme with gall Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for gall Spanish Central: Translation of gall Nglish: Translation of gall for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of gall for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up gall? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

voracity

play

the quality or state of being insatiable

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. asylum 'protection from arrest and extradition given especially to political refugees'

  2. insubordinate 'disobedient to authority'

  3. promulgate 'to make known by open declaration'

  4. epochal 'momentous or unparalleled'

  5. clemency 'merciful treatment of someone who could be given harsh punishment'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

gall

Test Your Vocabulary

Words for Summer: A Quiz

  • a-closeup-of-a-sunflower
  • Which of the following words means “of or relating to summer”?
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Syn City

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games