pettifogger

American  

[pe-tee-fawg-er] / ˈpɛ tiˌfɔg ər /

noun

pettifoggers plural

1. a person who engages in pettifogging.

2. a dishonest, unskilled, or underhanded lawyer.

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pettifogger British  

/ ˈpɛtɪˌfɒɡə /

noun

1. a lawyer of inferior status who conducts unimportant cases, esp one who is unscrupulous or resorts to trickery

2. any person who quibbles or fusses over details

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• pettifoggery
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• pettifoggers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of pettifogger

C16: from _petty + fogger, of uncertain origin, perhaps from Fugger, name of a family (C15–16) of German financiers

Explanation

A sneaky, underhanded lawyer is a pettifogger. If your neighbor hires an unscrupulous quack to sue you, you might call his attorney a pettifogger. You don't hear the word pettifogger much these days, since the word is fairly archaic, but you might come across it in an old book. A bad lawyer, or pettifogger, used dubious means to get clients and to win cases. The mid-16th century word itself combined petty — "small," from the French petit — with the obsolete word fogger, "underhanded dealer," which probably came from a wealthy 15th century Bavarian family of merchants, the Fuggers.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pettifogger pettifoggers

For nearly three years now, I’ve been fascinated by the performance art of this blustering pettifogger.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 17, 2023

“The noun pettifogger has two main senses: ‘A lawyer whose methods are petty, underhanded, or disreputable; shyster’ and ‘one given to quibbling over trifles.’

From Washington Times ● Feb. 2, 2020

The verb was actually formed from the noun "pettifogger", which was used in the 16th Century to describe those who would argue over minor details in a fee.

From BBC ● Jan. 22, 2020

The learned editor apparently has a greater future as a pettifogger than as an attorney.

From Time Magazine Archive

There was no safety for Margery whilst this plotting pettifogger was at large, and I stepped to the door and called the sentry.

From The Master of Appleby A Novel Tale Concerning Itself in Part with the Great Struggle in the Two Carolinas; but Chiefly with the Adventures Therein of Two Gentlemen Who Loved One and the Same Lady by Lynde, Francis

This would still the voices of those pettifoggers who will protest that Oswald was not actually proved guilty in a court of law.

From Time Magazine Archive

Quoting from Thomas Jefferson's diary reference to "soliciting pettifoggers," Joe Stamper of Antlers, Okla., urged his fellow lawyers not to "equate legal services with soap and breakfast foods."

From Time Magazine Archive

Who blindly take the book display'd By pettifoggers in the trade.

From Bibliomania; or Book-Madness A Bibliographical Romance by Dibdin, Thomas Frognall

When he is ill affected, however, he represents pettifoggers, cunning vile persons, thieves, messengers, footmen, and servants, etc.

From Myths and Marvels of Astronomy by Proctor, Richard A. (Richard Anthony)

Estorgoʼs neighbours, instigated by native legal pettifoggers in Manila, raised endless lawsuits against him; his means were exhausted, and apparatus being wanted to work the mines, he had to abandon them.

From The Philippine Islands by Foreman, John

Related Words

• con artist
• hypocrite