Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1822, 1875-1913
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ARGLE-BARGLOUS, ARGOL-BARG(O)LOUS, adj. Quarrelsome, disputatious.Sc.(E) 1913 H. P. Cameron Imit. of Christ iii. xliv. 153:
It is mair usefu' . . . till let ilk ane think as he wull, nor till be a thirlman tae argol-barglous discoorses.Abd. 1875 G. Macdonald Malcolm I. xvii.:
I never hard the cratur ca'd a leear. He's but a contankerous argle-barglous body.Ayr. 1822 Galt Provost xxvi.:
And no doubt his argol-bargolous disposition was an inheritance accumulated with his other conquest of wealth from the mannerless Yankies.
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"Argle-barglous adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 8 May 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/arglebarglous>
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