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pettifogger

   Also found in: Legal 0.04 sec.
pet·ti·fog·ger  (pt-fgr, -fôgr)
n.
1. A petty, quibbling, unscrupulous lawyer.
2. One who quibbles over trivia.
[Probably petty + obsolete fogger, pettifogger.]
petti·fogger·y n.
pettifogger [ˈpɛtɪˌfɒgə]
n
1. (Law) a lawyer of inferior status who conducts unimportant cases, esp one who is unscrupulous or resorts to trickery
2. any person who quibbles or fusses over details
[from petty + fogger, of uncertain origin, perhaps from Fugger, name of a family (C15-16) of German financiers]
pettifoggery  n
pettifogger
1. a lawyer whose practice is of a small or petty character; a lawyer of little importance.
2. a shyster lawyer. — pettifoggery, n.
See also: Law
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.pettifoggerpettifogger - a person (especially a lawyer or politician) who uses unscrupulous or unethical methods
shyster
offender, wrongdoer - a person who transgresses moral or civil law
2.pettifogger - a disputant who quibbles; someone who raises annoying petty objections
caviler, caviller, quibbler
malcontent - a person who is discontented or disgusted


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
“He is a pettifogger, and surely must know that there is such a thing as feloniously breaking into a man’s house.
The Pioneers by Cooper, James Fenimore View in context
So that thousands of poor English people trembled before a mysterious chieftain with an ancient destiny and a diadem of evil stars--when they are really trembling before a guttersnipe who was a pettifogger and a pawnbroker not twelve years ago.
The Wisdom Of Father Brown by Chesterton, Gilbert K. View in context
But, what of the hundreds of thousands of minds that have been deformed for ever by the incapable pettifoggers who have pretended to form them!
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby by Dickens, Charles View in context
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