quibble

The story

1. Latin · derived fromquibus“in what respect? how?”
2. English todayquibble

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”).

First known use, by meaning

• from 17th c. An argument or objection based on an ambiguity of wording or similar trivial circumstance; a minor complaint.
• from 17th c. A pun.