quibble
UK: ˈkwɪb.əl | US: ˈkwɪb.əl
n. a minor objection or criticism, especially one that is trivial or evasive
vi. to argue or raise objections about something trivial or petty
quibble = quib<evasive argument> + ble<frequentative verb suffix>
- quib: Likely derived from the obsolete word quib (a pun or petty evasion), itself possibly from Latin quibus (a dative/ablative plural form used in legal jargon, implying technicalities).
- ble: A suffix forming verbs denoting repeated or habitual action (e.g., dabble, gabble).
Etymology Origin:
The word quibble emerged in the early 17th century, originally referring to puns or wordplay. Its roots trace to legal Latin (quibus), where technicalities were often exploited in arguments. Over time, it shifted to mean petty objections, reflecting the idea of nitpicking over trivial details—much like splitting hairs in legal or rhetorical contexts.
She dismissed his complaint as a mere quibble over semantics.
Don’t quibble about minor expenses when the project budget is sound.
Their debate devolved into a series of pointless quibbles.
Lawyers often quibble over wording to gain an advantage.
He tends to quibble instead of addressing the core issue.