quibble

An argument or objection based on an ambiguity of wording or similar trivial circumstance; a minor complaint.

Noun

  1. 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.
    • Quibbles […]have no place in the search after truth. - 1741, I[saac] Watts, The Improvement of the Mind: Or, A Supplement to the Art of Logick: […], London: […] James Brackstone, […], →OCLC:
    • As the two railways were to meet end-on, providing a continuous line from Parkside to Lancaster, it would have been expected that they would work together harmoniously for their common interests, but the quibble over...

    Synonyms: argument argy-bargy altercation contention barney bawl out blue bobbery brawl clash conflict controversy debate difference ding-dong disagreement discordance disharmony disputation dispute dissonance disunion dustup face-off

  2. A pun.
    • Is it a quibble, or play upon words? - 1864, Robert Kemp Philp, editor, The Family Friend, page 54:
    • This is a quibble between council and counsel. The latter word is still used to imply secrecy; as in the phrase, "keep your own counsel." - 1870, Richard Grant White, The complete works of Shakspere, with a memoir, and...

Origin

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”).

Forms

quibbles

Verb

  1. To complain or argue in a trivial or petty manner.
    • They are constantly quibbling over insignificant details.
    • “Oh, if you talk in that sense!” said Mr. Standish, with as much disgust at such non-legal quibbling as a man can well betray towards a valuable client. - 1871, George Eliot [pseudonym; Mary Ann Evans], chapter X, in...
    • “I dog no one, Mr. Temple,” I replied bitterly. “We'll not quibble about words,” said he. - 1904 May, Winston Churchill, chapter VI, in The Crossing, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd.,...
  2. To contest, especially some trivial issue in a petty manner.
    • The customer quibbled the bill.

Forms

quibbles quibbling quibbled

Synonyms

squabble

Derived

outquibble quibbler quibblesome quibblingly quibbly unquibbled unquibbling