I. ˈkavəl, Brit often -vil verb
( caviled or cavilled ; caviled or cavilled ; caviling or cavilling -v(ə)liŋ, -vil- ; cavils )
Etymology: Latin cavillari to jest, mock, cavil, from cavilla raillery, sophistry; probably akin to Latin calvi to deceive — more at calumny
intransitive verb
: to raise captious and frivolous objection : object or criticize adversely for trivial reasons — usually used with at, about, or with
mere captiousness … that cavils at a whetstone because it's not a sword blade — J.L.Lowes
transitive verb
: to raise picayune objections to : cavil at
cavil the conditions of the agreement
II. noun
( -s )
1. : a captious frivolous picayune objection : quibble
accept without cavil whatever he was told — Samuel Butler †1902
2. : tendency to cavil : susceptibility to cavils
the general standard of the judicature is above reproach or cavil — Ernest Barker