Caviler
/ˈkæv.ɪ.lər/noun
A person who raises petty objections or nitpicks needlessly.
Did you know?English cavil ultimately comes from Latin cavillari, meaning to jest, mock, or quibble, so the modern nitpicker’s name was born from the ancient art of verbal mockery.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
cavillari
“to jest, mock, or quibble”
Late Latin
Latin
cavilla
“a joke, taunt, or mocking quibble”
Middle English
English
cavilen
“to raise petty objections; to quibble”
16th Century
English
caviler
“one who cavils; a captious objector”
Modern English
English
caviler
“a person who makes trivial or petty objections”
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