Gall
/ɡɔːl/noun
Bitter digestive fluid produced by the liver; also, bold or impudent behavior.
Did you know?The same ancient root behind *gall* also fed words for “yellow” and even the name of the Celtic people in Roman Latin (*Galli*), showing how color, bitterness, and identity could blur in early language.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ǵʰelh₃-
“to shine; greenish-yellow, pale, or bright”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*gallō
“gall, bile”
Old English
English
gealla
“bile, gall”
Middle English
English
galle
“bile; bitterness; resentment”
Modern English
English
gall
“bile; boldness, impudence; bitter resentment”