(a) the action of plucking or snatching; (b) carping, cavilling.

The action of carp, v.1. Censorious speech: cavilling, fault-finding, captious criticism.

= cavil, n. 1. archaic.

The action of finding fault. Obsolete. rare.

The action of nibble, v. (in various senses); an instance of this. Also: a portion nibbled or removed, a very small amount.

carping criticism like that of Zoilus.

Carping speech, cavil (with play on carp, n.1).

Characterized by finding fault; fault-finding.

(a) adj. given to or characterized by catching at words, pedantic, carping; (b) n. petty criticism, pedantry.

The action of pickthank, v.

The act or activity of criticizing or complaining a great deal.

Pedantic criticism; petty or overzealous fault-finding.