argle-bargle

English

Etymology

Originated in Scottish, where argle refers to argument, and bargle to reduplication.

Noun

argle-bargle (plural argle-bargles)

1. (slang) A verbal argument.

Verb

argle-bargle (third-person singular simple present argle-bargles, present participle argle-bargling, simple past and past participle argle-bargled)

1. (slang) To argue.
   • 1886, Robert Louis Stevenson, Kidnapped, ch. 11

     Last night ye haggled and argle-bargled like an apple-wife; and then passed me your word, and gave me your hand to back it; and ye ken very well what was the upshot.

Derived terms

• argy-bargy, argie-bargie