gall¹ (gôl)
n.

1. See bile (sense 1).
2. 1. Bitterness of feeling; rancor.
   2. Something bitter to endure: the gall of defeat.
3. Outrageous insolence; effrontery.

[Middle English, from Old English gealla, galla.]

gall² (gôl)
n.

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

v., galled, gall·ing, galls.

v.tr.

1. To make (the skin) sore by abrasion; chafe.
2. 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.
3. To irk or exasperate; vex: It galled me to have to wait outside.

v.intr.
To become irritated, chafed, or sore.

[Middle English galle, from Old English gealla, possibly from Latin galla, nutgall.]

gall³ (gôl)
n.
An abnormal swelling of plant tissue caused by insects, microorganisms, or external injury.

[Middle English galle, from Old French, from Latin galla, nutgall.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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