Hypertext Webster Gateway: "pettifog"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Pettifog \Pet"ti*fog\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Pettifogged}; p. pr.
& vb. n. {Pettifogging}.] [Petty + fog to pettifog.]
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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Pettifog \Pet"ti*fog\, v. t.
To advocate like a pettifogger; to argue trickily; as, to
pettifog a claim. [Colloq.]
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
pettifog
v : argue over petty things; "Let's not quibble over pennies"
[syn: {quibble}, {niggle}, {bicker}, {squabble}, {brabble}]
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