Pettifogging

[pet-ee-fog-ing, -faw-ging] /ˈpɛt iˌfɒg ɪŋ, -ˌfɔ gɪŋ/

adjective
1.
insignificant; petty:
pettifogging details.
2.
dishonest or unethical in insignificant matters; meanly petty.
[pet-ee-fog, -fawg] /ˈpɛt iˌfɒg, -ˌfɔg/
verb (used without object), pettifogged, pettifogging.
1.
to bicker or quibble over trifles or unimportant matters.
2.
to carry on a petty, shifty, or unethical law business.
3.
to practice chicanery of any sort.
/ˈpɛtɪˌfɒɡɪŋ/
adjective
1.
petty: pettifogging details
2.
mean; quibbling: pettifogging lawyers
/ˈpɛtɪˌfɒɡ/
verb -fogs, -fogging, -fogged
1.
(intransitive) to be a pettifogger

1570s as a verbal noun; c.1600 as a past participle adjective; see pettifogger. A verb pettifog is rare and attested only from 1640s.

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