| hairsplitter | (n) a disputant who makes unreasonably fine distinctions |
| hairsplitting | (n) making too fine distinctions of little importance, Syn. word-splitting, Example: they didn't take his hairsplitting seriously |
| Hairsplitter | n. One who makes excessively fine or needless distinctions in reasoning; one who quibbles. “The caviling hairsplitter.” De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ] |
| Hairsplitting | a. Making excessively fine or trivial distinctions in reasoning; overly subtle. -- The ancient hairsplitting technicalities of special pleading. Charles Sumner. [ 1913 Webster ] |