quibble

From a diminutive of Latin quibus, which appeared frequently in legal documents[1].

• IPA^(key): /ˈkwɪbəl/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪbəl

quibble (plural quibbles)

1. (informal) A trivial or minor complaint, objection or argument.

   He harped on his quibble about how the dark red paint should be described as carmine rather than burgundy.

2. (dated) A shift or turn from the point in question; a trifling or evasive distinction; a cavil.
   • I. Watts

     Quibbles have no place in the search after truth.

3. (obsolete) A pun.

• See Thesaurus:dispute

quibble (third-person singular simple present quibbles, present participle quibbling, simple past and past participle quibbled)

1. (informal, intransitive) To complain or argue in a trivial or petty manner.

   They are constantly quibbling over insignificant details.

• See Thesaurus:squabble