Etymology

argh

A1R1G2H4

Today it means: Expressing annoyance, dismay, embarrassment or frustration. Full definition →

Middle English argh ← Old English earg ← Proto-West Germanic *arg
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argh · interjection1

In imitation of a cry. Used since at least the 18th century. Compare ah, of which it could be a lengthened form.

argh · adjective2

  1. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*argaz
  2. Proto-West Germanic · inherited from*arg
  3. Old English · inherited fromearg“inert; weak; timid; cowardly”
  4. Middle English · inherited fromargh
  5. English todayargh

From Middle English argh, from Old English earg (“inert; weak; timid; cowardly”), from Proto-West Germanic *arg, from Proto-Germanic *argaz. Cognate with Scots ergh, argh, arch, erf (“timid; reluctant; unwilling”). Doublet of eerie.

Words from the same roots

Old Englishearg all →

eerie

Proto-West Germanic*arg all →

eerie

Proto-Germanic*argaz all →

eerie

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.