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.

Source : WordNet®

cavilled
     See {cavil}

cavil
     n : an evasion of the point of an argument by raising irrelevant
         distinctions or objections [syn: {quibble}, {quiddity}]
     v : raise trivial objections [syn: {carp}, {chicane}]
     [also: {cavilling}, {cavilled}]