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pettifogger Definition

petti·fog·ger (pet′i fäg′ər, -fôg′-; -pet′ē-)

noun

  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

Etymology: petty + obs. fogger < ?

pettifogger Related Forms

pet′ti·fog′ intransitive verb -·fogged′, -·fog′·ging pet′ti·fog′·gery noun

pettifogger Synonyms

pettifogger

n.

inferior lawyer, trickster, shyster, mouthpiece*; see cheat 1, lawyer, rascal.