Squabbling

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Squabble \Squab"ble\ (skw[o^]b"b'l), v. i. [imp. & p. p.
     {Squabbled} (-b'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. {Squabbling}
     (-bl[i^]ng).] [Cf. dial. Sw. skvabbel a dispute, skvappa to
     chide.]
     1. To contend for superiority in an unseemly manner; to
        scuffle; to struggle; to wrangle; to quarrel.


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     2. To debate peevishly; to dispute.
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              The sense of these propositions is very plain,
              though logicians might squabble a whole day whether
              they should rank them under negative or affirmative.
                                                    --I. Watts.
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     Syn: To dispute; contend; scuffle; wrangle; quarrel;
          struggle.
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