Gall

Gall is a term with several meanings in science and language. It most often refers to bile, the digestive fluid, but also to audacity and to certain plant growths caused by organisms.

Gall, or bile, is produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. It contains bile acids, cholesterol, bilirubin, and phospholipids, and is released into the small intestine to aid fat digestion. Bile travels through the hepatic ducts, the cystic duct, and the common bile duct, under hormonal control.

Common gall conditions include gallstones (cholelithiasis), which may obstruct ducts and cause pain or jaundice, and cholecystitis, inflammation of the gallbladder. Treatments range from medication to surgical removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy); diagnosis often uses ultrasound and sometimes more advanced imaging.

Gall as a noun can mean audacity or impudence; as a verb it can mean to irritate or annoy. The term is used in various idioms and its exact sense depends on context.

In botany, galls are abnormal plant growths induced by insects, mites, or fungi. They form in leaves, stems, or buds and may provide habitat for the parasite. Common examples include oak apple galls and grape phylloxera galls.