noun B1 Intermediate Uncommon

gall

gawl

Gall (noun) means Bold, brazen nerve; shameless audacity. Example: “He had the gall to ask for a raise after being late all month.”

noun

Bold, brazen nerve; shameless audacity.

"He had the gall to ask for a raise after being late all month."

"She had the gall to blame me for her own mistake."

Bile, the bitter fluid produced by the liver.

"The old expression "bitter as gall" comes from the taste of bile."

A sore patch on the skin caused by rubbing or chafing.

"The saddle left a gall on the horse's back."

A lump or growth on a plant, often caused by an insect laying eggs inside it.

"The oak tree was covered in small round galls left by wasps."

verb

To irritate or annoy someone deeply.

"It galled him to watch his rival take the credit."

How to use gall

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither shameless nerve, or bile/bitterness, or a chafed sore or plant growth — context makes clear which.

Common mistake

Don't confuse the noun "gall" (nerve, or bile) with the verb "to gall" (to irritate).

Common pairings

have the gall to gall and wormwood it galls me

Word forms

galled past tense, galled past tense, galls plural, galls plural, galls plural, Galls plural, galls singular, galls singular

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He had the _____ to ask for a raise after being late all month.

Etymology

From Old English geealla ("bile"). The figurative sense of "nerve" or "audacity" grew out of old medical beliefs that linked bile to bitterness and boldness of temperament.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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nutgall

Related words

nutgall

Rhymes for gall

all wall fall ball tall call hall pall mall small shall stall

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Frequently asked questions

What does “gall” mean?

The word “gall” means bold, brazen nerve; shameless audacity. In plain terms, either shameless nerve, or bile/bitterness, or a chafed sore or plant growth — context makes clear which.

How do you pronounce “gall”?

“Gall” is pronounced gawl (/ɡɔːl/ in IPA).

How do you use “gall” in a sentence?

Here is “gall” used in a sentence: “He had the gall to ask for a raise after being late all month.”

What is another word for “gall”?

Words with a similar meaning to “gall” include nutgall.

What part of speech is “gall”?

Depending on how it is used, “gall” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “gall” come from?

The word “gall” comes from Old English. From Old English geealla ("bile"). The figurative sense of "nerve" or "audacity" grew out of old medical beliefs that linked bile to bitterness and boldness of temperament.

Is “gall” a common word?

“Gall” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “gall” have?

“Gall” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: bold, brazen nerve; shameless audacity.

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