hairsplitter

2 definitions found

hairsplitter - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Hairsplitter \Hair"split`ter\ (-spl[i^]t`t[~e]r), n.
     One who makes excessively fine or needless distinctions in
     reasoning; one who quibbles. "The caviling hairsplitter."
     --De Quincey.
     [1913 Webster]

hairsplitter - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  hairsplitter
      n 1: a disputant who makes unreasonably fine distinctions