I. ˈgȯl noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English gealla; akin to Old High German galla gall, bile, Old Norse gall, Latin fel, Greek cholē, cholos gall, bile, Old English geolu yellow — more at yellow
1.
a. : bile ; especially : bile obtained from the gallbladder of an animal (as the ox) for use in the arts and in medicine
b. : something bitter to endure
the gall of repentance
c. : bitterness of spirit : rancor
2. : gallbladder
3. : brazen boldness with impudent assurance and rankling insolence
the small stockholder who … has the gall to ask questions about the management — D.L.Cohn
4. : glass gall
Synonyms: see temerity
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English galle, from Old English gealla, from Latin galla gallnut
1.
a. : a sore or a granulating wound of the skin caused by chronic irritation (as on the back or withers of a horse due to rubbing or chafing of saddle or harness) — see saddle sore
b.
(1) : something that irritates or causes carking exasperation
(2) : a state of irritation or exasperation
(3) : the inner source or spring of such irritation or exasperation
2.
a. archaic : a bare or weak spot (as on a string) : flaw , blemish ; also : a lesion in wood (as around a knot) used in or intended for use in archery
b. dialect : an unfertile or barren spot where the topsoil has been removed by erosion
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English gallen, from galle gall, sore
transitive verb
1.
a. : to fret and wear away by friction : hurt or break the skin of by rubbing : chafe
a saddle often galls the back of a horse
constant friction against the ship's side soon galled the cable
b. : fret , annoy , irritate
be galled by sarcasm
2. : to harass by shooting at
galled by enemy fire
intransitive verb
1. : to become sore or worn by rubbing
2. : seize vi 2
IV. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English galle, from Middle French, from Latin galla gallnut, gall on a plant; perhaps akin to Greek ganglion cystic tumor, mass of nerve tissue, Sanskrit glau round lump; basic meaning: ball, rounded object
1. : a swelling or excrescence of the tissues of a plant that results usually from the attacks of parasites (as fungi, bacteria, insects), is often distinguished by characteristic shape or color, and in some instances forms an important source of tannin — see aleppo gall , blue gall , green gall ; nutgall , oak apple ; gall midge
2. : a small generally flattened pellet of clay found in some sandstones and sandy shales — called also clay gall
V. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
: to cause galls to form on (as a tree)
intransitive verb
: to form galls