Punctilio
/pʌŋkˈtɪl.i.oʊ/noun
A fine point of etiquette or a very small detail of conduct.
Did you know?The word comes through Spanish and Italian from Latin *punctum* (“point”), ultimately tied to the same root that gives English *point*, *puncture*, and *punctual*—language built on the idea of a sharp, piercing mark.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*peuk-
“to prick, pierce, or point”
Latin
Latin
punctum
“a point; a prick; something pierced”
Italian
Italian
puntiglio
“a point of honor; a tiny point or scruple”
Spanish
Spanish
puntillo
“a small point; a punctilio or minute point of conduct”
17th Century
English
punctilio
“a minute point of etiquette or ceremony”
Modern English
English
punctilio
“a very small, exact point of etiquette or conduct”