411 REFERENCE · Wiktionary
God bless the Duke of Argyll
Reference material by Wiktionary contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
English
Etymology
A reference to parasites or cutaneous affections that might induce a shrugging reaction. Associated with an apocryphal tale that the Duke erected posts on his land that people found it convenient to rub against.
Interjection
God bless the Duke of Argyll
en Scotland Said in response to a person shrugging their shoulders.
Alternative forms
en God bless the Duke of Argyle
See also
en bless you
en Scotch fiddle
References
en 1873 John Camden Hotten The Slang Dictionary
en eponyms