1611, "a pun, a play on words," probably a dim. of quib "evasion of point at issue" (c.1550), from L. quibus "by what (things)?," dative and ablative plural of quid "what," neut. of quis (see who). The word's overuse in legal jargon supposedly gave it the association with trivial argument. Meaning "equivocation, evasion of the point" is attested from 1670. The verb in this sense is from 1656.

That's funny, that's exactly what our childhood arguments were called : kibbelen. We did not fight, we kibbelden. Never saw this English 'quibble' before.
Quibus/kwiebus btw is a noun still in use too, meaning silly person.

Last edited by BranShea; 09/21/2009 4:18 PM.