pettyfog

English

Verb

pettyfog (third-person singular simple present pettyfogs, present participle pettyfogging, simple past and past participle pettyfogged)

1. Alternative form of pettifog
   • 1949, News Bulletin of the Iowa State Bar Association - Volumes 9-13:

     His was the nimble brain which delayed, pettyfogged, and conceived the confusing novel.

   • 1975, Canada. Parliament. House of Commons, House of Commons Debates, Official Report - Volume 6, page 6023:

     Member: You are pettyfogging now.

   • 2013, Ziauddin Sardar, Robin Yassin-Kassab, Critical Muslim 07: Muslim Archipelago, →ISBN:

     Such pettyfogging was not the temper desired for what King Manoel of Portugal already termed his Empire of the Indies.