QUIBBLING

Verb

quibbling

present participle of quibble

Noun

quibbling (plural quibblings)

petty argument

• H. G. Wells

Suddenly he perceived that he was sure of God. Not perhaps of the God of Nicaea, but what did these poor little quibblings and definitions of the theologians matter?

Source: Wiktionary

QUIBBLE

Quib"ble, n. Etym: [Probably fr. quib, quip, but influenced by quillet, or quiddity.]

1. 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.

2. A pun; a low conceit.

Quib"ble, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Quibbled; p. pr. & vb. n. Quibbling.]

1. 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.

2. To pun; to practice punning. Cudworth.

Syn.

– To cavil; shuffle; equivocate; trifle.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition