Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 2005 (SND, online supplement).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 2000-2005
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DUKE O ARGYLL, prop. n. [From the Duke of Argyll, a substantial landowner in Argyll.] 1. Duke o Argyll's, Rhyming slang for piles, haemorroids (Edb. 2000s) Also dukes.Sc. 2000 Scotsman 12 May 17:
Duke of Argylls giving you gyp? Now, with Pile-Away's simple soothing formula and easy-to-use applicator, you can sit on park benches, church pews and those awful polypropylene chairs.Sc. 2001 Daily Star 30 Jan :
One poor bloke had me puzzled when he hirpled into the office complaining about the agony he was suffering in his bahookey because of his Chalfonts. Chalfont St Giles, apparently. We'd say Duke of Argyll's. Either way, it's all a pain in the arse.Sc. 2002 Herald 3 Jul 15:
More lightheartedly, piles are known as "dukes" (as in Duke of Argyll), ...Sc. 2005 Sunday Mail Jan 30 76:
... there's one thing that hasn't changed since Love Street was built and that's the old wooden seats in the stand that used to give my Duke of Argylls gip.
2. In phr. God bless the Duke o Argyll, Jocular expression used when scratching one's skin (from animals scratching on posts supposedly erected by the Duke of Argyll) (em.Sc.(a), wm.Sc. 2000s).
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"Duke O Argyll n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 16 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/snd00090418>
