Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. lavatory paper.

[1440		Promptorium Parvulorum 14: Arswyspe: Maniperium, anitergium].
[1556		J. Withals Dictionarie in Eng. and Latine ‘Bedde chambre with the apparell’ P: An arse wipe, penicillum].
1653		Urquhart (trans.) Gargantua and Pantagruel (1927) I Bk I 53: Of all torchculs, arsewisps, bumfodders, tail napkins, bunghole cleansers and wipe-breches, there is none in the world comparable to the neck of a goose, that is well downed.
2003		N. Griffiths Stump 164: It’s that fuckin Manchester’s fault: can’t even be a decent arsewipe like.
2005		B. Hare Urban Grimshaw 274: Arse-wipe [...] like sandpaper.

2. a general term of abuse; also used affectionately.

1962		P. Larkin letter 20 Feb. in Thwaite Sel. Letters (1992) 341: Our friend Arsewipe Thomas suddenly was led into my room.
1991		M.B. ‘Chopper’ Read Chopper From The Inside 173: He wasn’t any deep, dark complex master murderer, he was a two bob cheap little arse wipe.
1993		B. Moore Lex. of Cadet Lang. 16: arse wipe a non-specific term of abuse (from the notion of one who wipes another’s arse for him after defecation; also the material used in the wiping process, hence something utterly valueless). Between peers, however, it may be used as a term of friendship without abusive intent.
1998		I. Rankin Hanging Garden (1999) 284: This is just the start [...] I’ll have that little arse-wipe.
1999		Bug (Aus.) 29 June 🌐 Now, I ask you, true league fans, let’s get moving on making these practices an integral part of the league sub-cultural group before that arse-wipe Neil Whitlacker and his miserable pack of bastards takes all the fun out of a rugby league scrum.
2000		J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 282: Don’t be givin it the big ’un, yer greasy little arse-wipe.
2005		P. Howard Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightdress 25: I ring Orse Wipe on his mobile.
2009		T. Black Gutted 29: I spoke to the wee arsewipe this morning [...] Cheeky wee cunt.
2019		C. Hammer Silver [ebook] The mention of Doug Thunkleton horrifies Mandy [...] ‘That arsewipe?’.