quibble etymology

Etymology

The word "quibble" derives from Middle English "quibulen" (early 13th century), which in turn comes from Anglo-Norman French "quibole" and Old French "quibole," meaning "trickery, chicanery."

Meaning

A quibble refers to a play on words or a trivial argument that focuses on technicalities or literal meanings to evade or obscure the main point or issue at hand, often with the intent to deceive or mislead.

Origin

The term "quibble" initially described a legal subterfuge or a technical argument employed by lawyers to exploit loopholes or ambiguities in the law. It later expanded to encompass any form of trivial or evasive argumentation.

Usage

In everyday speech, the word "quibble" is often used to describe:

  • Petty or pointless arguments
  • Overly technical or hairsplitting discussions
  • Attempts to justify actions or statements based on minor details or literal interpretations
  • Deliberate attempts to obscure the main issue by focusing on irrelevant side points

quibble relate terms

  • quid

    Etymology The word quid has several possible etymologies Late Latin From quid me

  • quiddity

    Etymology Ultimate origin Latin quidditas thatness essence being or nature of thi

  • quibble

    Etymology The word quibble derives from Middle English quibulen early 13th century

  • quip

    Etymology The word quip is of uncertain origin The Oxford English Dictionary OED sug

  • quibble

    Etymology The word quibble derives from Middle English quibulen early 13th century

  • cheese

    Etymology The word cheese originates from the Latin word caseus which means cheese

  • either

    Etymology Origin Latin etumos true from Greek etymos true genuine Meaning Th

  • hidalgo

    Etymology Spanish hidalgo lt Medieval Latin infídālgo from in not fidālgu

  • kickshaw

    Etymology Middle English kickeshawes plural meaning dainty food Origin Possibly

  • neither

    Etymology Etymology is the study of the origin and history of words It involves tracing

  • neuter

    Etymology The word neuter derives from the Latin word neuter which itself originate

  • quality

    Etymology The word quality derives from the Latin word qualitas which means nature

  • quandary

    Etymology The word quandary comes from the Old French word quandenier which means

  • quantity

    Etymology The word quantity comes from the Latin word quantus which means how much

  • quasar

    Etymology The word quasar is a portmanteau of quasi stellar and radio source Mea

  • quasi

    Etymology The word quasi is derived from the Latin word quasi which means as if o

  • query

    Etymology The word query originated in the late 14th century from the Old French word

  • quibble

    Etymology The word quibble derives from Middle English quibulen early 13th century

  • quiddity

    Etymology Ultimate origin Latin quidditas thatness essence being or nature of thi

  • quidnunc

    Etymology Latin quid nunc meaning what now Meaning A quidnunc is a person who

  • quip

    Etymology The word quip is of uncertain origin The Oxford English Dictionary OED sug

  • quodlibet

    Etymology and Origin Quodlibet is a Latin word derived from the phrase quod libet meanin

  • quondam

    Etymology Derived from the Latin word quondam meaning formerly once or at one

  • quorum

    Etymology Latin quōrum Ancient Greek khōrós army that divides the enemy s ranks

  • quote

    Etymology The word quote originates from the Latin verb cotare which means to mark

  • quotidian

    Etymology The word quotidian is derived from the Latin word quotidiānus which mean

  • quotient

    Etymology The word quotient comes from the Latin word quotiens which means how many

  • ubiquity

    Etymology Latin ubiquitas presence everywhere Late Latin ubiquitous present eve

  • what

    Etymology Greek etymos true and logos word Meaning The study of the origi

  • when

    Etymology Meaning The study of the origin of words and the way their meanings have chan

  • whence

    Etymology The word whence is derived from the Old English word hwanon which means f

  • where

    Etymology Etymology refers to the study of the origin history and development of words

  • whether

    Etymology Meaning The study of the origin and history of words Origin From the Greek

  • which

    Etymology Greek eidos form idea logos study discourse Meaning The stu

  • whither

    Etymology Whither is an archaic interrogative adverb that means to what place or condi

  • whoever

    Etymology Word Whoever Origin Old English hwā swa hwa meaning who anyone ever

  • whom

    Etymology Old English hwām Proto Germanic hwaz Proto Indo European kwos who M

  • whose

    Etymology The term etymology originates from the Greek word etymon meaning true se

  • bicker

    Etymology Old English bicrian meaning to skirmish to quarrel From Proto Germanic

  • quiddity

    Etymology Ultimate origin Latin quidditas thatness essence being or nature of thi

  • cavil

    Etymology The word cavil has its origins in the Latin word cavilla which means a j

  • sophisticate

    Etymology sophisticate adj from French sophistique sophistical artificial fro

  • chicanery

    Etymology The term chicanery derives from the Old French word chicaner which means

  • challenge

    Etymology The word challenge derives from the Old French word chalenge which itself

  • sophistication

    Etymology Originated from the Latin sophisticus meaning pertaining to the sophists

  • dodge

    Etymology The word dodge has its origins in the Middle English word doggen meaning

  • fence

    Etymology The word fence comes from the Old English word fencian which means to enc

  • debate

    Etymology The word debate derives from the Old French word debatre which in turn com