gall

/ˈgȯl/

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 *ǵholh-n- (whence, without the suffix, Greek cholḗ "bile, bitter hatred," chólos "bitter hatred, wrath," Avestan zāra- "bile"), a derivative of *ǵhelh- "green, yellow"

noun

  1. brazen boldness often with brash self-confidence : nerve, effrontery —usually used in the phrase have the gall

  2. bile; especially : ox, gall

  3. something bitter to endure

I can't believe she said that! What gall!

temerity audacity hardihood effrontery nerve cheek gall chutzpah mean conspicuous or flagrant boldness. temerity suggests boldness arising from rashness and contempt of danger. audacity implies a disregard of restraints commonly imposed by convention or prudence.

verb

  1. irritate, vex

  2. to fret and wear away by friction : chafe

  3. to become sore or worn by rubbing

sarcasm galls her

noun

  1. an abnormal outgrowth of plant tissue usually due to insect or mite parasites or fungi and sometimes forming an important source of tannin