Both Uses of
gall
in
Romeo and Juliet
- a madness most discreet,
A choking gall, and a preserving sweet.†p. 20.3 *
- I will withdraw: but this intrusion shall,
Now seeming sweet, convert to bitter gall.†p. 56.5
Definitions:
-
(1)
(gall as in: had the gall to) boldness and rudeness to say or do things that are not acceptable to others
-
(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
Less commonly today, but commonly in classic literature, gall may refer to a feeling of deep bitterness, anger, or frustration as in "nothing is more galling than..." It also has a specialized meaning referencing a swollen part of a tree, or a skin sore that is caused by rubbing. Finally, in medicine, gall can reference bile from the gallbladder.