cavil

 
Pronunciation: /ˈkav(ə)l/

verb (cavils, cavilling, cavilled; US cavils, caviling, caviled)

[no object]
  • make petty or unnecessary objections: they cavilled at the cost

noun

  • a petty or unnecessary objection.

Derivatives

caviller

noun

Origin:

mid 16th century: from French caviller, from Latin cavillari, from cavilla 'mockery'