pettifog Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb argue over petty things
    niggle; squabble; bicker; brabble; quibble.
    • Let's not quibble over pennies

WordNet

Pet"ti*fog intransitive verb
Etymology
Petty + fog to pettifog.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Pettifogged ; present participle & verbal noun Pettifogging
Definitions
  1. To do a petty business as a lawyer; also, to do law business in a petty or tricky way. "He takes no money, but pettifogs gratis." S. Butler.
Pet"ti*fog transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To advocate like a pettifogger; to argue trickily; as, to pettifog a claim. Colloq.

Webster 1913