scrupling

noun

1. a very small quantity, amount, or part
2. 1. an ancient Roman unit of weight equal to ounce
   2. a unit of weight equal to dram apothecaries' weight or 20 grains (1.296 grams): abbrev. sc
3. a feeling of hesitancy, doubt, or uneasiness arising from difficulty in deciding what is right, proper, ethical, etc.; qualm or misgiving about something one thinks is wrong
4. high ethical standards

Origin: MFr scrupule < L scrupulus, small sharp stone (hence small weight, difficulty, doubt), dim. of scrupus, sharp stone < IE *skreup- < base *(s)ker-, to cut

transitive verb, intransitive verb scrupled, scrupling