gall2 /göl/ noun An abnormal growth on a plant caused by a parasite such as an insect or fungus, or by bacteria ORIGIN: Fr galle, from L galla oak-apple gallate /galˈāt/ noun A salt of gallic acid gallfly /gölˈ/ or gall wasp noun An insect of the hymenopterous family Cynipidae that causes galls by depositing its eggs in plants gall midge noun A Cecidomyia or similar gall-making midge gallˈnut noun A nut-like gall produced on an oak by a gall wasp, used esp formerly for making ink gall wasp see gallfly above. |