pettifoggery

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

pet•ti•fog /ˈpɛtiˌfɑg, -ˌfɔg/   v. [no object] , -fogged, -fog•ging. 

1. to raise objections about small, unimportant matters.

pet•ti•fog•ger, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pet•ti•fog  (pet′ē fog′, -fôg′), v.i., -fogged, -fog•ging. 

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.

• Middle Low German voger or Middle Dutch voeger one who arranges things; akin to Old English gefōg a joining
• back formation from pettifogger, equivalent. to petty + fogger 1605–15

pet′ti•fog′ger, n. 
pet′ti•fog′ger•y, n.