quibble
/ˈkwɪbəl/ noun, verb
Forms quibbles quibbling quibbled
- noun An argument or objection based on an ambiguity of wording or similar trivial circumstance; a minor complaint. “He harped on his quibble about how the dark red paint should be described as carmine rather than burgundy.”
- noun (archaic) A pun.
- verb (informal, intransitive) To complain or argue in a trivial or petty manner. “They are constantly quibbling over insignificant details.”
- verb (informal, rare, transitive) To contest, especially some trivial issue in a petty manner. “The customer quibbled the bill.”
Synonyms
argument argy-bargy altercation contention barney bawl out blue bobbery brawl clash conflict controversy debate difference ding-dong disagreement discordance disharmony disputation dispute quiddity cavil niggle pettifog bicker squabble brabble
Etymology
Origin uncertain. Possibly from quib (“quibble”, noun) + -le (diminutive ending). Quib is probably from Latin quibus (“in what respect? how?”), which appeared frequently in legal documents and came to be suggestive of the verbosity and petty argumentation found therein; or perhaps an alteration of quip. Alternatively, perhaps related to dialectal Dutch kwebbelen (“to speak quickly and continuously, chatter”). Compare also Scots wheebele (“a quibble”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun A shift or turn from the point in question; a trifling or evasive distinction; an evasion; a cavil.
- noun A pun; a low conceit.
- verb To evade the point in question by artifice, play upon words, caviling, or by raising any insignificant or impertinent question or point; to trifle in argument or discourse; to equivocate.
- verb To pun; to practice punning. Cudworth.
Etymology [Probably fr. quib, quip, but influenced by quillet, or quiddity.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “quibble”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details