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MWgall

gall

Flag: gbEnglishMerriam-Webster Dictionary

gall
noun (1)
ˈgȯl

Definition (Entry 1 of 4)

  • brazen boldness often with brash self-confidence nerve, effrontery //I can't believe she said that! What gall! //… the chutzpah, the unmitigated gall, the boldness of these guys … — Anthony M. Amore, quoted in Toronto Star (online) //… the sheer gall and effrontery of the genuine … grifter … — Lucy Mangan —usually used in the phrase have the gall //Once again he has the gall to blame the Press he hates for reporting what he and his wife have said. — Robert Jobson // (humorous) … the head coach had the gall to suggest his poorly performing team was performing poorly. — Cathal Kelly //When caught red-handed, don't have the gall (or stupidity) to try to deny it. — Jane Moore //Our society has a propensity for covertly liking the unlikeable. Maybe it's because we appreciate those who do and say things we don't have the gall to put forth ourselves … — Adam Ramos
  • bile sense 1a
    especially ox gall
  • something bitter to endure //… Ed McBain's new 87th Precinct police procedural, whose dark plot of romantic betrayal and legal injustice comes laced with the bitter gall of irony. — Marilyn Stasio
    bitterness of spirit rancor //He seemed to be full of hatred and gall against every thing and every body in the world … — Herman Melville
verb
galled; gall​ing; galls

Definition (Entry 2 of 4)

noun (2)

Definition (Entry 3 of 4)

  • 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 sense illustration
noun (3)

Definition (Entry 4 of 4)

  • a skin sore caused by chronic irritation
    a cause or state of exasperation
  • archaic flaw
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms: Noun (1)
animosity animus antagonism antipathy bad blood bitterness enmity grudge hostility jaundice rancor
Synonyms: Verb
abrade chafe corrade erode fray frazzle fret rasp rub wear
Antonyms: Noun (1)
amity
Examples
Noun (1)
  • //her kindly feelings turned to gall when she found out her nephew only wanted her money
  • //I can't believe he had the gall to ask me how much I weigh
Verb
  • //It galls me that such a small group of people can have so much power.
  • //move that rope so the sharp edge of the hull doesn't gall it
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2
Noun (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun (3)
before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
History and Etymology
Noun (1)
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 yellow entry 1

NOTE: The sense "boldness," first attested in the U.S. in the second half of the 19th century, is perhaps of independent origin.

Verb
Middle English gallen, in part derivative of galle gall entry 4, in part borrowed from Middle French galer "to scratch, rub, mount an attack on," derivative of gale "gallnut, callus," borrowed from Latin galla gall entry 3
Noun (2)
Middle English galle, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin galla "gallnut, oak apple," of obscure origin

NOTE: Latin galla cannot be akin to gall entry 4 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."

Noun (3)
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 gall entry 3), but given the wide distribution and range of meanings of the Germanic words, this appears unlikely.

gall
noun

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 2)

verb

Synonyms (Entry 2 of 2)


gall
noun (1)
ˈgȯl

Definition (Entry 1 of 4)

  • brazen boldness often with brash self-confidence nerve, effrontery //I can't believe she said that! What gall! //… the chutzpah, the unmitigated gall, the boldness of these guys … — Anthony M. Amore, quoted in Toronto Star (online) //… the sheer gall and effrontery of the genuine … grifter … — Lucy Mangan —usually used in the phrase have the gall //Once again he has the gall to blame the Press he hates for reporting what he and his wife have said. — Robert Jobson // (humorous) … the head coach had the gall to suggest his poorly performing team was performing poorly. — Cathal Kelly //When caught red-handed, don't have the gall (or stupidity) to try to deny it. — Jane Moore //Our society has a propensity for covertly liking the unlikeable. Maybe it's because we appreciate those who do and say things we don't have the gall to put forth ourselves … — Adam Ramos
  • bile sense 1a
    especially ox gall
  • something bitter to endure //… Ed McBain's new 87th Precinct police procedural, whose dark plot of romantic betrayal and legal injustice comes laced with the bitter gall of irony. — Marilyn Stasio
    bitterness of spirit rancor //He seemed to be full of hatred and gall against every thing and every body in the world … — Herman Melville
verb
galled; gall​ing; galls

Definition (Entry 2 of 4)

noun (2)

Definition (Entry 3 of 4)

  • 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 sense illustration
noun (3)

Definition (Entry 4 of 4)

  • a skin sore caused by chronic irritation
    a cause or state of exasperation
  • archaic flaw
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms: Noun (1)
animosity animus antagonism antipathy bad blood bitterness enmity grudge hostility jaundice rancor
Synonyms: Verb
abrade chafe corrade erode fray frazzle fret rasp rub wear
Antonyms: Noun (1)
amity
Examples
Noun (1)
  • //her kindly feelings turned to gall when she found out her nephew only wanted her money
  • //I can't believe he had the gall to ask me how much I weigh
Verb
  • //It galls me that such a small group of people can have so much power.
  • //move that rope so the sharp edge of the hull doesn't gall it
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2
Noun (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun (3)
before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
History and Etymology
Noun (1)
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 yellow entry 1

NOTE: The sense "boldness," first attested in the U.S. in the second half of the 19th century, is perhaps of independent origin.

Verb
Middle English gallen, in part derivative of galle gall entry 4, in part borrowed from Middle French galer "to scratch, rub, mount an attack on," derivative of gale "gallnut, callus," borrowed from Latin galla gall entry 3
Noun (2)
Middle English galle, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin galla "gallnut, oak apple," of obscure origin

NOTE: Latin galla cannot be akin to gall entry 4 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."

Noun (3)
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 gall entry 3), but given the wide distribution and range of meanings of the Germanic words, this appears unlikely.

gall
noun

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 2)

verb

Synonyms (Entry 2 of 2)


gall
noun (1)
ˈgȯl

Definition (Entry 1 of 4)

  • brazen boldness often with brash self-confidence nerve, effrontery //I can't believe she said that! What gall! //… the chutzpah, the unmitigated gall, the boldness of these guys … — Anthony M. Amore, quoted in Toronto Star (online) //… the sheer gall and effrontery of the genuine … grifter … — Lucy Mangan —usually used in the phrase have the gall //Once again he has the gall to blame the Press he hates for reporting what he and his wife have said. — Robert Jobson // (humorous) … the head coach had the gall to suggest his poorly performing team was performing poorly. — Cathal Kelly //When caught red-handed, don't have the gall (or stupidity) to try to deny it. — Jane Moore //Our society has a propensity for covertly liking the unlikeable. Maybe it's because we appreciate those who do and say things we don't have the gall to put forth ourselves … — Adam Ramos
  • bile sense 1a
    especially ox gall
  • something bitter to endure //… Ed McBain's new 87th Precinct police procedural, whose dark plot of romantic betrayal and legal injustice comes laced with the bitter gall of irony. — Marilyn Stasio
    bitterness of spirit rancor //He seemed to be full of hatred and gall against every thing and every body in the world … — Herman Melville
verb
galled; gall​ing; galls

Definition (Entry 2 of 4)

noun (2)

Definition (Entry 3 of 4)

  • 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 sense illustration
noun (3)

Definition (Entry 4 of 4)

  • a skin sore caused by chronic irritation
    a cause or state of exasperation
  • archaic flaw
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms: Noun (1)
animosity animus antagonism antipathy bad blood bitterness enmity grudge hostility jaundice rancor
Synonyms: Verb
abrade chafe corrade erode fray frazzle fret rasp rub wear
Antonyms: Noun (1)
amity
Examples
Noun (1)
  • //her kindly feelings turned to gall when she found out her nephew only wanted her money
  • //I can't believe he had the gall to ask me how much I weigh
Verb
  • //It galls me that such a small group of people can have so much power.
  • //move that rope so the sharp edge of the hull doesn't gall it
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2
Noun (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun (3)
before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
History and Etymology
Noun (1)
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 yellow entry 1

NOTE: The sense "boldness," first attested in the U.S. in the second half of the 19th century, is perhaps of independent origin.

Verb
Middle English gallen, in part derivative of galle gall entry 4, in part borrowed from Middle French galer "to scratch, rub, mount an attack on," derivative of gale "gallnut, callus," borrowed from Latin galla gall entry 3
Noun (2)
Middle English galle, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin galla "gallnut, oak apple," of obscure origin

NOTE: Latin galla cannot be akin to gall entry 4 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."

Noun (3)
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 gall entry 3), but given the wide distribution and range of meanings of the Germanic words, this appears unlikely.

gall
noun

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 2)

verb

Synonyms (Entry 2 of 2)


gall
noun (1)
ˈgȯl

Definition (Entry 1 of 4)

  • brazen boldness often with brash self-confidence nerve, effrontery //I can't believe she said that! What gall! //… the chutzpah, the unmitigated gall, the boldness of these guys … — Anthony M. Amore, quoted in Toronto Star (online) //… the sheer gall and effrontery of the genuine … grifter … — Lucy Mangan —usually used in the phrase have the gall //Once again he has the gall to blame the Press he hates for reporting what he and his wife have said. — Robert Jobson // (humorous) … the head coach had the gall to suggest his poorly performing team was performing poorly. — Cathal Kelly //When caught red-handed, don't have the gall (or stupidity) to try to deny it. — Jane Moore //Our society has a propensity for covertly liking the unlikeable. Maybe it's because we appreciate those who do and say things we don't have the gall to put forth ourselves … — Adam Ramos
  • bile sense 1a
    especially ox gall
  • something bitter to endure //… Ed McBain's new 87th Precinct police procedural, whose dark plot of romantic betrayal and legal injustice comes laced with the bitter gall of irony. — Marilyn Stasio
    bitterness of spirit rancor //He seemed to be full of hatred and gall against every thing and every body in the world … — Herman Melville
verb
galled; gall​ing; galls

Definition (Entry 2 of 4)

noun (2)

Definition (Entry 3 of 4)

  • 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 sense illustration
noun (3)

Definition (Entry 4 of 4)

  • a skin sore caused by chronic irritation
    a cause or state of exasperation
  • archaic flaw
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms: Noun (1)
animosity animus antagonism antipathy bad blood bitterness enmity grudge hostility jaundice rancor
Synonyms: Verb
abrade chafe corrade erode fray frazzle fret rasp rub wear
Antonyms: Noun (1)
amity
Examples
Noun (1)
  • //her kindly feelings turned to gall when she found out her nephew only wanted her money
  • //I can't believe he had the gall to ask me how much I weigh
Verb
  • //It galls me that such a small group of people can have so much power.
  • //move that rope so the sharp edge of the hull doesn't gall it
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2
Noun (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun (3)
before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
History and Etymology
Noun (1)
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 yellow entry 1

NOTE: The sense "boldness," first attested in the U.S. in the second half of the 19th century, is perhaps of independent origin.

Verb
Middle English gallen, in part derivative of galle gall entry 4, in part borrowed from Middle French galer "to scratch, rub, mount an attack on," derivative of gale "gallnut, callus," borrowed from Latin galla gall entry 3
Noun (2)
Middle English galle, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin galla "gallnut, oak apple," of obscure origin

NOTE: Latin galla cannot be akin to gall entry 4 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."

Noun (3)
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 gall entry 3), but given the wide distribution and range of meanings of the Germanic words, this appears unlikely.

gall
noun

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 2)

verb

Synonyms (Entry 2 of 2)


gall
noun (1)
ˈgȯl

Definition (Entry 1 of 4)

  • brazen boldness often with brash self-confidence nerve, effrontery //I can't believe she said that! What gall! //… the chutzpah, the unmitigated gall, the boldness of these guys … — Anthony M. Amore, quoted in Toronto Star (online) //… the sheer gall and effrontery of the genuine … grifter … — Lucy Mangan —usually used in the phrase have the gall //Once again he has the gall to blame the Press he hates for reporting what he and his wife have said. — Robert Jobson // (humorous) … the head coach had the gall to suggest his poorly performing team was performing poorly. — Cathal Kelly //When caught red-handed, don't have the gall (or stupidity) to try to deny it. — Jane Moore //Our society has a propensity for covertly liking the unlikeable. Maybe it's because we appreciate those who do and say things we don't have the gall to put forth ourselves … — Adam Ramos
  • bile sense 1a
    especially ox gall
  • something bitter to endure //… Ed McBain's new 87th Precinct police procedural, whose dark plot of romantic betrayal and legal injustice comes laced with the bitter gall of irony. — Marilyn Stasio
    bitterness of spirit rancor //He seemed to be full of hatred and gall against every thing and every body in the world … — Herman Melville
verb
galled; gall​ing; galls

Definition (Entry 2 of 4)

noun (2)

Definition (Entry 3 of 4)

  • 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 sense illustration
noun (3)

Definition (Entry 4 of 4)

  • a skin sore caused by chronic irritation
    a cause or state of exasperation
  • archaic flaw
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms: Noun (1)
animosity animus antagonism antipathy bad blood bitterness enmity grudge hostility jaundice rancor
Synonyms: Verb
abrade chafe corrade erode fray frazzle fret rasp rub wear
Antonyms: Noun (1)
amity
Examples
Noun (1)
  • //her kindly feelings turned to gall when she found out her nephew only wanted her money
  • //I can't believe he had the gall to ask me how much I weigh
Verb
  • //It galls me that such a small group of people can have so much power.
  • //move that rope so the sharp edge of the hull doesn't gall it
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2
Noun (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun (3)
before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
History and Etymology
Noun (1)
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 yellow entry 1

NOTE: The sense "boldness," first attested in the U.S. in the second half of the 19th century, is perhaps of independent origin.

Verb
Middle English gallen, in part derivative of galle gall entry 4, in part borrowed from Middle French galer "to scratch, rub, mount an attack on," derivative of gale "gallnut, callus," borrowed from Latin galla gall entry 3
Noun (2)
Middle English galle, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin galla "gallnut, oak apple," of obscure origin

NOTE: Latin galla cannot be akin to gall entry 4 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."

Noun (3)
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 gall entry 3), but given the wide distribution and range of meanings of the Germanic words, this appears unlikely.

gall
noun

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 2)

verb

Synonyms (Entry 2 of 2)


gall
noun (1)
ˈgȯl

Definition (Entry 1 of 4)

  • brazen boldness often with brash self-confidence nerve, effrontery //I can't believe she said that! What gall! //… the chutzpah, the unmitigated gall, the boldness of these guys … — Anthony M. Amore, quoted in Toronto Star (online) //… the sheer gall and effrontery of the genuine … grifter … — Lucy Mangan —usually used in the phrase have the gall //Once again he has the gall to blame the Press he hates for reporting what he and his wife have said. — Robert Jobson // (humorous) … the head coach had the gall to suggest his poorly performing team was performing poorly. — Cathal Kelly //When caught red-handed, don't have the gall (or stupidity) to try to deny it. — Jane Moore //Our society has a propensity for covertly liking the unlikeable. Maybe it's because we appreciate those who do and say things we don't have the gall to put forth ourselves … — Adam Ramos
  • bile sense 1a
    especially ox gall
  • something bitter to endure //… Ed McBain's new 87th Precinct police procedural, whose dark plot of romantic betrayal and legal injustice comes laced with the bitter gall of irony. — Marilyn Stasio
    bitterness of spirit rancor //He seemed to be full of hatred and gall against every thing and every body in the world … — Herman Melville
verb
galled; gall​ing; galls

Definition (Entry 2 of 4)

noun (2)

Definition (Entry 3 of 4)

  • 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 sense illustration
noun (3)

Definition (Entry 4 of 4)

  • a skin sore caused by chronic irritation
    a cause or state of exasperation
  • archaic flaw
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms: Noun (1)
animosity animus antagonism antipathy bad blood bitterness enmity grudge hostility jaundice rancor
Synonyms: Verb
abrade chafe corrade erode fray frazzle fret rasp rub wear
Antonyms: Noun (1)
amity
Examples
Noun (1)
  • //her kindly feelings turned to gall when she found out her nephew only wanted her money
  • //I can't believe he had the gall to ask me how much I weigh
Verb
  • //It galls me that such a small group of people can have so much power.
  • //move that rope so the sharp edge of the hull doesn't gall it
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2
Noun (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun (3)
before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
History and Etymology
Noun (1)
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 yellow entry 1

NOTE: The sense "boldness," first attested in the U.S. in the second half of the 19th century, is perhaps of independent origin.

Verb
Middle English gallen, in part derivative of galle gall entry 4, in part borrowed from Middle French galer "to scratch, rub, mount an attack on," derivative of gale "gallnut, callus," borrowed from Latin galla gall entry 3
Noun (2)
Middle English galle, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin galla "gallnut, oak apple," of obscure origin

NOTE: Latin galla cannot be akin to gall entry 4 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."

Noun (3)
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 gall entry 3), but given the wide distribution and range of meanings of the Germanic words, this appears unlikely.

gall
noun

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 2)

verb

Synonyms (Entry 2 of 2)


gall
noun (1)
ˈgȯl

Definition (Entry 1 of 4)

  • brazen boldness often with brash self-confidence nerve, effrontery //I can't believe she said that! What gall! //… the chutzpah, the unmitigated gall, the boldness of these guys … — Anthony M. Amore, quoted in Toronto Star (online) //… the sheer gall and effrontery of the genuine … grifter … — Lucy Mangan —usually used in the phrase have the gall //Once again he has the gall to blame the Press he hates for reporting what he and his wife have said. — Robert Jobson // (humorous) … the head coach had the gall to suggest his poorly performing team was performing poorly. — Cathal Kelly //When caught red-handed, don't have the gall (or stupidity) to try to deny it. — Jane Moore //Our society has a propensity for covertly liking the unlikeable. Maybe it's because we appreciate those who do and say things we don't have the gall to put forth ourselves … — Adam Ramos
  • bile sense 1a
    especially ox gall
  • something bitter to endure //… Ed McBain's new 87th Precinct police procedural, whose dark plot of romantic betrayal and legal injustice comes laced with the bitter gall of irony. — Marilyn Stasio
    bitterness of spirit rancor //He seemed to be full of hatred and gall against every thing and every body in the world … — Herman Melville
verb
galled; gall​ing; galls

Definition (Entry 2 of 4)

noun (2)

Definition (Entry 3 of 4)

  • 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 sense illustration
noun (3)

Definition (Entry 4 of 4)

  • a skin sore caused by chronic irritation
    a cause or state of exasperation
  • archaic flaw
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms: Noun (1)
animosity animus antagonism antipathy bad blood bitterness enmity grudge hostility jaundice rancor
Synonyms: Verb
abrade chafe corrade erode fray frazzle fret rasp rub wear
Antonyms: Noun (1)
amity
Examples
Noun (1)
  • //her kindly feelings turned to gall when she found out her nephew only wanted her money
  • //I can't believe he had the gall to ask me how much I weigh
Verb
  • //It galls me that such a small group of people can have so much power.
  • //move that rope so the sharp edge of the hull doesn't gall it
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2
Noun (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun (3)
before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
History and Etymology
Noun (1)
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 yellow entry 1

NOTE: The sense "boldness," first attested in the U.S. in the second half of the 19th century, is perhaps of independent origin.

Verb
Middle English gallen, in part derivative of galle gall entry 4, in part borrowed from Middle French galer "to scratch, rub, mount an attack on," derivative of gale "gallnut, callus," borrowed from Latin galla gall entry 3
Noun (2)
Middle English galle, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin galla "gallnut, oak apple," of obscure origin

NOTE: Latin galla cannot be akin to gall entry 4 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."

Noun (3)
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 gall entry 3), but given the wide distribution and range of meanings of the Germanic words, this appears unlikely.

gall
noun

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 2)

verb

Synonyms (Entry 2 of 2)


gall
noun (1)
ˈgȯl

Definition (Entry 1 of 4)

  • brazen boldness often with brash self-confidence nerve, effrontery //I can't believe she said that! What gall! //… the chutzpah, the unmitigated gall, the boldness of these guys … — Anthony M. Amore, quoted in Toronto Star (online) //… the sheer gall and effrontery of the genuine … grifter … — Lucy Mangan —usually used in the phrase have the gall //Once again he has the gall to blame the Press he hates for reporting what he and his wife have said. — Robert Jobson // (humorous) … the head coach had the gall to suggest his poorly performing team was performing poorly. — Cathal Kelly //When caught red-handed, don't have the gall (or stupidity) to try to deny it. — Jane Moore //Our society has a propensity for covertly liking the unlikeable. Maybe it's because we appreciate those who do and say things we don't have the gall to put forth ourselves … — Adam Ramos
  • bile sense 1a
    especially ox gall
  • something bitter to endure //… Ed McBain's new 87th Precinct police procedural, whose dark plot of romantic betrayal and legal injustice comes laced with the bitter gall of irony. — Marilyn Stasio
    bitterness of spirit rancor //He seemed to be full of hatred and gall against every thing and every body in the world … — Herman Melville
verb
galled; gall​ing; galls

Definition (Entry 2 of 4)

noun (2)

Definition (Entry 3 of 4)

  • 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 sense illustration
noun (3)

Definition (Entry 4 of 4)

  • a skin sore caused by chronic irritation
    a cause or state of exasperation
  • archaic flaw
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms: Noun (1)
animosity animus antagonism antipathy bad blood bitterness enmity grudge hostility jaundice rancor
Synonyms: Verb
abrade chafe corrade erode fray frazzle fret rasp rub wear
Antonyms: Noun (1)
amity
Examples
Noun (1)
  • //her kindly feelings turned to gall when she found out her nephew only wanted her money
  • //I can't believe he had the gall to ask me how much I weigh
Verb
  • //It galls me that such a small group of people can have so much power.
  • //move that rope so the sharp edge of the hull doesn't gall it
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2
Noun (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun (3)
before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
History and Etymology
Noun (1)
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 yellow entry 1

NOTE: The sense "boldness," first attested in the U.S. in the second half of the 19th century, is perhaps of independent origin.

Verb
Middle English gallen, in part derivative of galle gall entry 4, in part borrowed from Middle French galer "to scratch, rub, mount an attack on," derivative of gale "gallnut, callus," borrowed from Latin galla gall entry 3
Noun (2)
Middle English galle, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin galla "gallnut, oak apple," of obscure origin

NOTE: Latin galla cannot be akin to gall entry 4 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."

Noun (3)
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 gall entry 3), but given the wide distribution and range of meanings of the Germanic words, this appears unlikely.

gall
noun

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 2)

verb

Synonyms (Entry 2 of 2)


gall
noun (1)
ˈgȯl

Definition (Entry 1 of 4)

  • brazen boldness often with brash self-confidence nerve, effrontery //I can't believe she said that! What gall! //… the chutzpah, the unmitigated gall, the boldness of these guys … — Anthony M. Amore, quoted in Toronto Star (online) //… the sheer gall and effrontery of the genuine … grifter … — Lucy Mangan —usually used in the phrase have the gall //Once again he has the gall to blame the Press he hates for reporting what he and his wife have said. — Robert Jobson // (humorous) … the head coach had the gall to suggest his poorly performing team was performing poorly. — Cathal Kelly //When caught red-handed, don't have the gall (or stupidity) to try to deny it. — Jane Moore //Our society has a propensity for covertly liking the unlikeable. Maybe it's because we appreciate those who do and say things we don't have the gall to put forth ourselves … — Adam Ramos
  • bile sense 1a
    especially ox gall
  • something bitter to endure //… Ed McBain's new 87th Precinct police procedural, whose dark plot of romantic betrayal and legal injustice comes laced with the bitter gall of irony. — Marilyn Stasio
    bitterness of spirit rancor //He seemed to be full of hatred and gall against every thing and every body in the world … — Herman Melville
verb
galled; gall​ing; galls

Definition (Entry 2 of 4)

noun (2)

Definition (Entry 3 of 4)

  • 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 sense illustration
noun (3)

Definition (Entry 4 of 4)

  • a skin sore caused by chronic irritation
    a cause or state of exasperation
  • archaic flaw
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms: Noun (1)
animosity animus antagonism antipathy bad blood bitterness enmity grudge hostility jaundice rancor
Synonyms: Verb
abrade chafe corrade erode fray frazzle fret rasp rub wear
Antonyms: Noun (1)
amity
Examples
Noun (1)
  • //her kindly feelings turned to gall when she found out her nephew only wanted her money
  • //I can't believe he had the gall to ask me how much I weigh
Verb
  • //It galls me that such a small group of people can have so much power.
  • //move that rope so the sharp edge of the hull doesn't gall it
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2
Noun (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun (3)
before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
History and Etymology
Noun (1)
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 yellow entry 1

NOTE: The sense "boldness," first attested in the U.S. in the second half of the 19th century, is perhaps of independent origin.

Verb
Middle English gallen, in part derivative of galle gall entry 4, in part borrowed from Middle French galer "to scratch, rub, mount an attack on," derivative of gale "gallnut, callus," borrowed from Latin galla gall entry 3
Noun (2)
Middle English galle, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin galla "gallnut, oak apple," of obscure origin

NOTE: Latin galla cannot be akin to gall entry 4 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."

Noun (3)
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 gall entry 3), but given the wide distribution and range of meanings of the Germanic words, this appears unlikely.

gall
noun

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 2)

verb

Synonyms (Entry 2 of 2)


gall
noun (1)
ˈgȯl

Definition (Entry 1 of 4)

  • brazen boldness often with brash self-confidence nerve, effrontery //I can't believe she said that! What gall! //… the chutzpah, the unmitigated gall, the boldness of these guys … — Anthony M. Amore, quoted in Toronto Star (online) //… the sheer gall and effrontery of the genuine … grifter … — Lucy Mangan —usually used in the phrase have the gall //Once again he has the gall to blame the Press he hates for reporting what he and his wife have said. — Robert Jobson // (humorous) … the head coach had the gall to suggest his poorly performing team was performing poorly. — Cathal Kelly //When caught red-handed, don't have the gall (or stupidity) to try to deny it. — Jane Moore //Our society has a propensity for covertly liking the unlikeable. Maybe it's because we appreciate those who do and say things we don't have the gall to put forth ourselves … — Adam Ramos
  • bile sense 1a
    especially ox gall
  • something bitter to endure //… Ed McBain's new 87th Precinct police procedural, whose dark plot of romantic betrayal and legal injustice comes laced with the bitter gall of irony. — Marilyn Stasio
    bitterness of spirit rancor //He seemed to be full of hatred and gall against every thing and every body in the world … — Herman Melville
verb
galled; gall​ing; galls

Definition (Entry 2 of 4)

noun (2)

Definition (Entry 3 of 4)

  • 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 sense illustration
noun (3)

Definition (Entry 4 of 4)

  • a skin sore caused by chronic irritation
    a cause or state of exasperation
  • archaic flaw
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms: Noun (1)
animosity animus antagonism antipathy bad blood bitterness enmity grudge hostility jaundice rancor
Synonyms: Verb
abrade chafe corrade erode fray frazzle fret rasp rub wear
Antonyms: Noun (1)
amity
Examples
Noun (1)
  • //her kindly feelings turned to gall when she found out her nephew only wanted her money
  • //I can't believe he had the gall to ask me how much I weigh
Verb
  • //It galls me that such a small group of people can have so much power.
  • //move that rope so the sharp edge of the hull doesn't gall it
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2
Noun (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun (3)
before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
History and Etymology
Noun (1)
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 yellow entry 1

NOTE: The sense "boldness," first attested in the U.S. in the second half of the 19th century, is perhaps of independent origin.

Verb
Middle English gallen, in part derivative of galle gall entry 4, in part borrowed from Middle French galer "to scratch, rub, mount an attack on," derivative of gale "gallnut, callus," borrowed from Latin galla gall entry 3
Noun (2)
Middle English galle, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin galla "gallnut, oak apple," of obscure origin

NOTE: Latin galla cannot be akin to gall entry 4 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."

Noun (3)
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 gall entry 3), but given the wide distribution and range of meanings of the Germanic words, this appears unlikely.

gall
noun

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 2)

verb

Synonyms (Entry 2 of 2)

gall — MW · Shobdo