pettifogging
adjective
[ ˈpɛtɪfɒɡɪŋ ]
• placing undue emphasis on petty details; petty or trivial.
• "pettifogging attorneys were the bane of civil society"
Origin:
late 16th century: from pettifogger + -ing2.
pettifog
verb
• quibble about petty points.
Origin:
early 17th century: back-formation from pettifogger.
