argle-bargle

Meaning

Noun

A verbal argument.

Verb

To argue.

Synonyms

argy-bargy

argument

contravention

controversy

debate

dialectic

disputation

eristic

wrangle

arguing

disceptation

Etymology

First documented in English in 1822, from Scots (where first recorded in 1808), from earlier argle (“argue obstinately, wrangle”) used in English since 16th century, presumably from argue + -le (frequentative suffix), though possibly from Old Norse (Suio-Gothic) ierga – possibly influenced by haggle – plus rhyming reduplication, possibly from bargain, found in early variant aurgle-bargain (1720).