Gall, v. t. [imp. & p. p.Galled (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Galling.] [OE. gallen; cf. F. galer to scratch, rub, gale scurf, scab, G. galle a disease in horses' feet, an excrescence under the tongue of horses; of uncertain origin. Cf. Gall gallnut.] 1. To fret and wear away by friction; to hurt or break the skin of by rubbing; to chafe; to injure the surface of by attrition; as, a saddle galls the back of a horse; to gall a mast or a cable.
I am loth to gall a new-healed wound. Shak.
2. To fret; to vex; as, to be galled by sarcasm.
They that are most galled with my folly,
They most must laugh. Shak.
3. To injure; to harass; to annoy; as, the troops were galled by the shot of the enemy.
In our wars against the French of old, we used to gall them with our longbows, at a greater distance than they could shoot their arrows. Addison.