Emily Dickinson Lexicon

GALL, v.t.¹ [Fr. galer, to scratch or rub; gale, scab.]

1. To fret and wear away by friction; to excoriate; to hurt or break the skin by rubbing; as, a saddle galls the back of a horse, or a collar his breast. Tyrant, I well deserve thy galling chain. – Pope.
2. To impair; to wear away; as, a stream galls the ground. – Ray.
3. To tease; to fret; to vex; to chagrin; as, to be galled by sarcasm.
4. To wound; to break the surface of any thing by rubbing; as, to gall a mast or a cable.
5. To injure; to harass; to annoy. 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 long bows, at a greater distance than they could shoot their arrows. – Addison.