noun an evasion of the point of an argument by raising irrelevant distinctions or objections
cavil; quiddity.
verb evade the truth of a point or question by raising irrelevant objections
verb argue over petty things
niggle; squabble; pettifog; bicker; brabble.
Let's not quibble over pennies
WordNet
Quib"ble noun
Etymology
Probably fr. quib, quip, but influenced by quillet, or quiddity.
Definitions
A shift or turn from the point in question; a trifling or evasive distinction; an evasion; a cavil.
Quibbles have no place in the search after truth.
I. Watts.
A pun; a low conceit.
Quib"ble intransitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participleQuibbled ; present participle & verbal nounQuibbling
Definitions
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.
To pun; to practice punning.Cudworth.Syn. -- To cavil; shuffle; equivocate; trifle.
