Meaning
Impudence or brazenness; temerity; chutzpah.
Etymology
Origin: Old English
From Middle English galle, from Old English ġealla, galla, from Proto-West Germanic *gallā, from Proto-Germanic *gallǭ. The figurative senses (e.g., impudence, brazenness, chutzpah) are related to the literal sense (i.e., bile) via the lasting linguocultural effects of humorism, which governed Western medicine for many centuries before the advent of scientific medicine. Related to Dutch gal, German Galle, Swedish galle, galla, Ancient Greek χολή (kholḗ). Also remotely related with yellow and gold.
Synonyms & Antonyms
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 26 recorded puzzles:
- 2026-08-10GALMORU
- 2026-04-04GAULBRY
- 2026-03-22ADLHGNI
- 2025-12-20GNAMEDL
- 2025-12-12AZGOLIN
- 2025-12-10GYATIEL
- 2025-10-06LABGINZ
- 2025-09-26ARGOLMH
- 2025-09-08AGHLMUP
- 2025-04-16GATLENY
- 2024-12-27LAMGCIY
- 2024-10-06GALDCEN
+14 earlier appearances in the archive.