Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Cavil \Cav"il\ (k[a^]v"[i^]l), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Caviled} or
   {Cavilled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Caviling} or {Cavilling}.] [L.
   cavillari to practice jesting, to censure, fr. cavilla
   bantering jests, sophistry: cf. OF. caviller.]
   To raise captious and frivolous objections; to find fault
   without good reason.

         You do not well in obstinacy To cavil in the course of
         this contract.                           --Shak.

Caviling \Cav"il*ing\, a.
   Disposed to cavil; finding fault without good reason. See
   {Captious}.

         His depreciatory and caviling criticism. --Lewis.

Source : WordNet®

caviling
     adj : quibbling over insignificant details; "caviling pettifoggers
           and quiggling pleaders"-Edmund Burke; "her nagging and
           carping attack"; "thought her editor unnecessarily
           nitpicking"; "a pettifogging lawyer's mind"; "had no
           patience with quibbling critics" [syn: {carping}, {nitpicking},
            {pettifogging}, {quibbling}]