The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
pettifogged — petɪfÉ‘g , fÉ”g / fÉ’g v. cheat, deceive; swindle, defraud … English contemporary dictionary
Pettifog — Pet ti*fog, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Pettifogged}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Pettifogging}.] [Petty + fog to pettifog.] To do a petty business as a lawyer; also, to do law business in a petty or tricky way. He takes no money, but pettifogs gratis. S. Butler.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Pettifogging — Pettifog Pet ti*fog, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Pettifogged}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Pettifogging}.] [Petty + fog to pettifog.] To do a petty business as a lawyer; also, to do law business in a petty or tricky way. He takes no money, but pettifogs gratis. S … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
pettifogger — [pet′i fäg΄ər, pet′ifôg΄ər; pet′ēfäg΄ər, pet′ēfôg΄ər] n. 〚 PETTY + obs. fogger < ?〛 1. a lawyer who handles petty cases, esp. one who uses unethical methods in conducting trumped up cases 2. a trickster; cheater 3. a quibbler; caviler pettifog … Universalium
pettifog — pettifogger, n. pettifoggery, n. /pet ee fog , fawg /, v.i., pettifogged, pettifogging. 1. to bicker or quibble over trifles or unimportant matters. 2. to carry on a petty, shifty, or unethical law business. 3. to practice chicanery of any sort.… … Universalium
pettifog — verb (pettifogs, pettifogging, pettifogged) archaic 1》 quibble about petty points. 2》 practise legal deception or trickery. Derivatives pettifoggery noun Origin C17: back form. from pettifogger … English new terms dictionary
pettifog — /ˈpɛtifɒg / (say peteefog) verb (i) (pettifogged, pettifogging) 1. to quibble over petty details. 2. to carry on a petty or shifty law business. 3. to practise chicanery of any sort. {backformation from pettifogger, from petty + fogger (of… …
pettifogger — [pet′i fäg΄ər, pet′ifôg΄ər; pet′ēfäg΄ər, pet′ēfôg΄ər] n. [ PETTY + obs. fogger < ?] 1. a lawyer who handles petty cases, esp. one who uses unethical methods in conducting trumped up cases 2. a trickster; cheater 3. a quibbler; caviler pettifog … English World dictionary
pettifog — v.intr. (pettifogged, pettifogging) 1 practise legal deception or trickery. 2 quibble or wrangle about petty points. Etymology: back form. f. PETTIFOGGER … Useful english dictionary
