Advertisement

gall (n.1)

"bile, liver secretion," Old English galla (Anglian), gealla (West Saxon) "gall, bile," from Proto-Germanic *gallon "bile" (source also of Old Norse gall "gall, bile; sour drink," Old Saxon galle, Old High German galla, German Galle), from PIE root *ghel- (2) "to shine," with derivatives denoting "green, yellow," and thus "bile, gall." Informal sense of "impudence, boldness" first recorded American English 1882; but meaning "embittered spirit, rancor" is from c. 1200, from the old medicine theory of humors.

gall (n.2)

"sore on skin caused by rubbing or chafing," Old English gealla "painful swelling, sore spot on a horse," probably from Latin galla "gall, lump on plant," originally "oak-gall" (see gall (n.3)). Perhaps from or influenced by gall (n.1) on notion of "poison-sore." Meaning "bare spot in a field" (1570s) is probably the same word. German galle, Dutch gal also are said to be from Latin.

gall (v.)

"to make sore by chafing," mid-15c., from gall (n.2). Earlier "to have sores, be sore" (early 14c.). Figurative sense of "harass, vex, irritate, chafe the spirit of," is from 1570s. A past-participle adjective gealled is found in Old English, but OED says this is from the noun. Related: Galled; galling.

gall (n.3)

"excrescence on a plant caused by the deposit of insect eggs," especially on an oak leaf, late 14c., from Latin galla "oak-gall," which is of uncertain origin. They were harvested for use in medicines, inks, dyes.

Others are reading

Advertisement
Advertisement
Definitions of gall from WordNet
1
gall (n.)
an open sore on the back of a horse caused by ill-fitting or badly adjusted saddle;
Synonyms: saddle sore
gall (n.)
a skin sore caused by chafing;
gall (n.)
abnormal swelling of plant tissue caused by insects or microorganisms or injury;
gall (n.)
a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will;
gall (n.)
a digestive juice secreted by the liver and stored in the gallbladder; aids in the digestion of fats;
Synonyms: bile
gall (n.)
the trait of being rude and impertinent; inclined to take liberties;
Synonyms: crust / impertinence / impudence / insolence / cheekiness / freshness
2
gall (v.)
become or make sore by or as if by rubbing;
Synonyms: chafe / fret
gall (v.)
irritate or vex;
It galls me that we lost the suit
Synonyms: irk
From wordnet.princeton.edu