BICKER

bicker, bickering, spat, tiff, squabble, pettifoggery, fuss

(noun) a quarrel about petty points

quibble, niggle, pettifog, bicker, squabble, brabble

(verb) argue over petty things; “Let’s not quibble over pennies”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology 1

Verb

bicker (third-person singular simple present bickers, present participle bickering, simple past and past participle bickered)

To quarrel in a tiresome, insulting manner.

To brawl or move tremulously, quiver, shimmer (of a water stream, light, flame, etc.)

(of rain) To patter.

To skirmish; to exchange blows; to fight.

Synonyms

• wrangle

• See also squabble

Noun

bicker (plural bickers)

A skirmish; an encounter.

(Scotland, obsolete) A fight with stones between two parties of boys.

A wrangle; also, a noise, as in angry contention.

The process by which selective eating clubs at Princeton University choose new members.

Etymology 2

Noun

bicker (plural bickers)

(Scotland) A wooden drinking-cup or other dish.

Source: Wiktionary


Bick"er, n. Etym: [See Beaker.]

Definition: A small wooden vessel made of staves and hoops, like a tub. [Prov. Eng.]

Bick"er, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bickered; p. pr. & vb. n. Bickering.] Etym: [OE. bikeren, perh. fr. Celtic; cf. W. bicra to fight, bicker, bicre conflict, skirmish; perh. akin to E. beak.]

1. To skirmish; to exchange blows; to fight. [Obs.] Two eagles had a conflict, and bickered together. Holland.

2. To contend in petulant altercation; to wrangle. Petty things about which men cark and bicker. Barrow.

3. To move quickly and unsteadily, or with a pattering noise; to quiver; to be tremulous, like flame. They [streamlets] bickered through the sunny shade. Thomson.

Bick"er, n.

1. A skirmish; an encounter. [Obs.]

2. A fight with stones between two parties of boys. [Scot.] Jamieson.

3. A wrangle; also, a noise,, as in angry contention.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

28 April 2024

POLYGENIC

(adjective) of or relating to an inheritable character that is controlled by several genes at once; of or related to or determined by polygenes


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

In 1511, leaders in Mecca believed coffee stimulated radical thinking and outlawed the drink. In 1524, the leaders overturned that order, and people could drink coffee again.

coffee icon