Inflected forms: quib·bled, quib·bling, quib·bles 1. To evade the truth or importance of an issue by raising trivial distinctions and objections. 2. To find fault or criticize for petty reasons; cavil.
NOUN:
1. A petty distinction or an irrelevant objection. 2.Archaic A pun.
ETYMOLOGY:
Probably diminutive of obsolete quib, equivocation, perhaps from Latin quibus, dative and ablative pl. of qu, who, what (from its frequent use in legal documents). See kwo- in Appendix I.
OTHER FORMS:
quibbler —NOUN
SYNONYMS:
quibble, carp1, cavil, niggle, nitpick, pettifog These verbs mean to raise petty or frivolous objections or complaints: quibbling about minor details; a critic who constantly carped; caviling about the price of coffee; an editor who niggled about commas; tried to stop nitpicking all the time; pettifogging about trivialities.
kw
b
l
, who, what (from its frequent use in legal documents). See kwo- in Appendix I.
