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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.

ARGLE-BARGLE, ARGOL-BARGOL, n. and v. [′ɑrgl′bɑrgl, ′ɑrgɔl ′bɑrgɔl, ′ǫrgl-]

1. n. Contention, dispute.Fif. 1872 G. Cupples Tappy's Chicks 252:
Many a time after this, during these days of “argle bargle,” as our smith's wife called it.Edb. 1915 T. W. Paterson Auld Saws 127:
He stauns nae argle-bargle; Taks “Na” frae nane.

2. v. To dispute.Sc. 1886 R. L. Stevenson Kidnapped xi.:
Ye haggled and argle-bargled like an apple-wife.Abd. 1882 W. Forsyth Sel. from Writings 14:
An' sall they meet like shaven priests To argle bargle o'er their richt?e.Per. 1895 I. Maclaren Days of Auld Lang Syne 25:
He'd argle-bargle wi' the factor for a summer.Edb. 1916 T. W. Paterson The Wyse-Sayin's o' Solomon xxix. 9:
Gin a man o' sense alloos himsel till't, An' gangs argle-barglin wi' a gomeral, . . . he'll mak naething o't.Ayr. 1822 Galt Sir A. Wylie xcvi.:
It's an unco thing that ye maun aye be argol-bargoling wi' me in that gait.

3. vbl.n. Argle-bargling, disputation.Dmf. 1899 J. Shaw A Country Schoolmaster 333:
There would be such argle-bargling and splitting o' peas to gie neat wecht.