galled

gall ¹  (gôl)

n.

1. See bile.

2.

a. Bitterness of feeling; rancor.

b. Something bitter to endure: the gall of defeat.

3. Outrageous insolence; effrontery.

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[Middle English, from Old English gealla, galla; see ghel-² in Indo-European roots.]

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gall ²  (gôl)

n.

1. A skin sore caused by friction and abrasion: a saddle gall.

2.

a. Exasperation; vexation.

b. 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.

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

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gall ³  (gôl)

n.

An abnormal swelling of plant tissue caused by insects, microorganisms, or external injury.

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

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

galled - painful from having the skin abraded chafed painful - causing physical or psychological pain; "worked with painful slowness"