English Explanatory Dictionary

quibble

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An argument or objection based on an ambiguity of wording or similar trivial circumstance; a minor complaint.
  2. A pun.
verb
  1. To complain or argue in a trivial or petty manner.
  2. To contest, especially some trivial issue in a petty manner.

Pronunciation

/ˈkwɪbəl/ en-au-quibble.ogg

Word forms

quibble quibbles quibbling quibbled

Etymology

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”).

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 falling out feud fight flite hassle issue palaver quarrel quibble row spat squabble tangle threap tiff wrangle

Derived words

outquibble quibbler quibblesome quibblingly quibbly unquibbled unquibbling
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