Where does the word “Choler” come from and What does Choler mean?

The ancient Greek physicians believed that there were four humors, or primary fluids, which governed the body, the blood, or sanguis; the yellow bile, or chole; the black bile, or melas chole (giving our word melancholy); and the phlegm, or phlegma.

A superabundance of chole in one’s system was supposed to cause that individual to become hot tempered, highly irascible, ready to fly off the handle; choleric, in fact.