1. (n.) A shift or turn from the point in question; a trifling or evasive distinction; an evasion\; a cavil.

2. (n.) A pun; a low conceit.

3. (v. i.) To evade the point in question by artifice, play upon words, caviling, or by raising any insignificant or impertinent question or point; to trifle in argument or discourse; to equivocate.

4. (v. i.) To pun; to practice punning.

adverse criticism animadversion argue argufy around the bush aspersion bad notices bad press bandy words beat about beg the question bicker boggle captiousness carp carping catch at straws cavil caviling censoriousness chicane chop logic choplogic contend contest criticism criticize cross swords cut and thrust cut up discept dispute dodge equivocate equivocation evade evade the issue evasion exception fault-find faultfinding fence find fault flak give and take hair-splitting hairsplitting hassle have it out hedge hit home thrust hostile criticism hypercriticalness hypercriticism imputation jesuitism join issue knock lock horns logomachize moot mystify nagging nicety niggle niggling nit nit-picking nitpick obloquy obscure overcriticalness palter paltering parry pestering pettifog pettifogging pick holes pick nits pick to pieces plead polemicize polemize prevaricate priggishness pull apart pull to pieces pussyfoot quibbling quiddity quillet quip quirk quodlibet rap reflection reproachfulness shift shuffle shy sidestep slam sophism sophistry spar split hairs squabble stricture subtlety swipe take exception take sides taking exception tear apart tear to pieces tergiversate thrash out trichoschistism try conclusions wrangle