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gall

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The definition of gall is a bitter feeling or a very bold and rude action.

(noun)

An example of gall is how an army feels after losing the war.
An example of gall is a wife canceling a divorce action with a dying husband because she knows she will get more from his life insurance after he dies than she would from just the divorce settlement.

Gall is defined as to irritate by rubbing.

(verb)

An example of gall is an irritation on the back of a horse caused by the rubbing of a saddle.

See gall in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

bile (sense )
Archaic the gallbladder
something that is bitter or distasteful
bitter feeling; rancor
☆ rude boldness; impudence; audacity

Origin: ME galle < OE (Anglian) galla (WS gealla), akin to Ger galle < IE base *ĝhel-, to shine, yellow > L fel, gall, Gr cholē, bile

noun

a sore on the skin, esp. of a horse's back, caused by rubbing or chafing
irritation or annoyance, or a cause of this

Origin: ME galle < OE gealla < L galla: see gall

transitive verb

to injure or make sore by rubbing; chafe
to irritate; annoy; vex

Origin: ME gallen < the n. (or < OFr galer, to scratch < galle < L galla)

intransitive verb

Rare to become sore from rubbing or chafing

noun

a tumor on plant tissue caused by stimulation by fungi, insects, or bacteria: galls formed on oak trees have a high tannic acid content and are used commercially

Origin: ME galle < OFr < L galla, gallnut, orig., spherical growth < IE base *gel-, to form into a ball > clay, clot

See gall in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

See bile.
a. Bitterness of feeling; rancor.
b. Something bitter to endure: the gall of defeat.
Outrageous insolence; effrontery.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old English gealla, galla; see ghel-² in Indo-European roots

noun

A skin sore caused by friction and abrasion: a saddle gall.
a. Exasperation; vexation.
b. The cause of such vexation.

verb galled, gall·ing, galls

verb, transitive

To make (the skin) sore by abrasion; chafe.
To damage or break the surface of by or as if by friction; abrade: the bark of saplings galled by improper staking. See Synonyms at chafe.
To irk or exasperate; vex: It galled me to have to wait outside.

verb, intransitive

To become irritated, chafed, or sore.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English galle

Origin: , from Old English gealla

Origin: , possibly from Latin galla, nutgall

noun

An abnormal swelling of plant tissue caused by insects, microorganisms, or external injury.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English galle

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Latin galla, nutgall