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Definition of pettifogger - 2 dictionary results

pet⋅ti⋅fog

  [pet-ee-fog, -fawg]
Use pettifogger in a Sentence
–verb (used without object), -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.
Origin:
1605–15; back formation from pettifogger, equiv. to petty + fogger < MLG voger or MD voeger one who arranges things; akin to OE gefōg a joining

Related forms:
pet⋅ti⋅fog⋅ger, noun
pet⋅ti⋅fog⋅ger⋅y, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To pettifogger
pet·ti·fog·ger   (pět'ē-fŏg'ər, -fô'gər)   
n.  

  1. A petty, quibbling, unscrupulous lawyer.

  2. One who quibbles over trivia.


[Probably petty + obsolete fogger, pettifogger.]
pet'ti·fog'ger·y n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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