bile meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

bile

noun

/baɪl/ · /ˈbaɪ.əl/

Etymology From Middle French bile, from Latin bīlis (“bile”). Partially displaced native English gall (“bile”), from Middle English galle, from Old English galla, ġealla (“gall, bile”).

Usually A bitter brownish-yellow or greenish-yellow secretion produced by the liver, stored in the gall bladder, and discharged into the duodenum where it aids the process of digestion.

Usually Bitterness of temper; ill humour; irascibility.

Usually Either of two of the four humours, black bile or yellow bile, in ancient and medieval physiology.

I shall tire of my Journal if it is to contain nothing but biles and plasters and unguents.1890, Walter Scott, The Journal of Sir Walter Scott:
He spake out of the Pythonesse, Act. 16. 17. brought downe fire from heauen, and consumed Iobs sheepe 7000. and his seruants, raised a storme, strooke the house wherein his sonnes and daughters feasted with their elder brother, smote the foure corners of it, with the ruine whereof they all were destroyed, and perished: and ouerspread the body of that holy Saint their father with botches[t] and biles from the sole of his foot to the crowne of his head.1616, Alexander Roberts, A Treatise of Witchcraft:

Derived terms: atrabilious, bile acid, bile duct, bileful, bile pigment, bile salt, bile soap, bilestone, biliary, biliary tract, biligenesis, bilious, bilirubin, biliuria, black bile, violet red bile agar, yellow bile

bile

verb

Etymology Obsolete form of boil. Akin to Dutch buil and German Beule, all from Proto-Germanic *būlǭ.

Pronunciation spelling Pronunciation spelling of boil.

We pretty near biled ourselves and Miss Euly done got her bes' pink apron stained, an' I dropped Sis Suky's big kitchen spoon in de hogshead of sand […]1912, Stella George Stern Perry, Melindy, page 130:

bile

noun

Etymology Obsolete form of boil. Akin to Dutch buil and German Beule, all from Proto-Germanic *būlǭ.

Obsolete A boil (kind of swelling).