quibble

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈkwɪbəl/^[1]

Etymology

It is probably a diminutive of obsolete quib “an evasion of the point” (1540s),^[2][3][4][5] which is perhaps from Latin quibus (“by which, to which”), the dative and ablative plural of quī “who, what”,^[2][3][4][6] a word common in legal documents and so associated with legal hair-splitting.^[2][3][4] Barnhart notes that quip is related but formed independently.^[3][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

A play on words, a pun (1611).^[7][3][4]

Semantic evolution

The sense of a pun is obsolete.^[7] From 1670 the noun meant an evasion of the point,^[7][3] and the verb, first “to pun” (before 1629), meant from 1656 to evade the point by quibbles.^[7][3][4][5] The modern sense of petty fault-finding or a minor objection developed from this.^[2][5][6]

Timeline

• 1540s – quib, an evasion.^[4][3]
• 1611 – a pun.^[7][3][4]
• before 1629 – verb, to pun.^[7][3]
• 1656 – verb, to evade the point.^[7][3][5]
• 1670 – an equivocation.^[7][3]

Modern meaning

Verb

1. To raise trivial objections or criticisms; to cavil.
2. To evade the point by making petty distinctions; to equivocate.

Noun

1. A minor objection or criticism.
2. An evasion of the point; a petty distinction.
3. (archaic) A pun.

Word family

• quibbler

Related words

• quip

Usage notes

The American Heritage Dictionary groups quibble, carp, cavil, niggle, nitpick and pettifog as verbs meaning to raise petty objections.^[2]

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
4. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
6. ^ a b c Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
7. ^ a b c d e f g h Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press