Plural of bile, the bitter yellowish-brown fluid produced by the liver that helps break down fats during digestion.
From Old English 'bille,' related to Latin 'billis,' ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots. The plural form reflects the anatomical understanding that multiple gallbladders or bile secretions exist.
Medieval physicians thought bile was one of four 'humours' that controlled your emotions—excess bile made you 'choleric' (angry), which is why we still say someone is 'bitter'!
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