wikilawyering

English

Etymology

From wiki +‎ lawyering.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

wikilawyering (uncountable)

1. (Wikimedia jargon) Engaging in legalistic arguments on a wiki.
   • 2007, Bidoun: A Quarterly Forum for Middle Eastern Talent:

     […] comments like these about "Jew-baiting" are very rare on even the most contentious of "discussion" and "mediation" pages. What one finds there instead is wikilawyering — cryptic, acronym-laden debate invoking protocol and precedent.

   • 2008, Big Bad Bob, “Re: alt-hacker.org member busted for wikilawyering!”, in alt.hacker (Usenet):
   • 2012, Graham Nye, “Four killed in US when train hits float carrying veterans”, in uk.railway (Usenet):

     What, and be buried in wikilawyering designed to keep actual subject matter experts out and leave wp safely in the hands of the wikieditor cliques?