pettifogging
Word family verbpettifognounpettifoggerypettifoggerpettifogging
pet·ti·fog·ging /ˈpetiˌfɒɡɪŋ $ -ˌfɑː-, -ˌfɒː-/ adjectiveadj British EnglishBrE old-fashioned pettifogging• Through most of its existence, the Council has viewed itself as a slightly pettifogging, rather legalistic arbitrator.