BICKERING
bicker, bickering, spat, tiff, squabble, pettifoggery, fuss
(noun) a quarrel about petty points
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Noun
bickering (plural bickerings)
Petty quarreling. Usually considered a childish behaviour, although often applied to adults.
Verb
bickering
present participle of bicker
Source: Wiktionary
Bick"er*ing, n.
1. A skirmishing. "Frays and bickerings." Milton.
2. Altercation; wrangling.
BICKER
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