SQUABBLE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does squabble mean? 

• SQUABBLE (noun)
  The noun SQUABBLE has 1 sense:

1. a quarrel about petty points

  Familiarity information: SQUABBLE used as a noun is very rare.

• SQUABBLE (verb)
  The verb SQUABBLE has 1 sense:

1. argue over petty things

  Familiarity information: SQUABBLE used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SQUABBLE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A quarrel about petty points

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

bicker; bickering; fuss; pettifoggery; spat; squabble; tiff

Hypernyms ("squabble" is a kind of...):

dustup; quarrel; row; run-in; words; wrangle (an angry dispute)

Derivation:

squabble (argue over petty things)

• SQUABBLE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they squabble    ... he / she / it squabbles   
Past simple: squabbled   
Past participle: squabbled   
-ing form: squabbling   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Argue over petty things

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

bicker; brabble; niggle; pettifog; quibble; squabble

Context example:

Let's not quibble over pennies

Hypernyms (to "squabble" is one way to...):

argue; contend; debate; fence (have an argument about something)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

squabble (a quarrel about petty points)

 Context examples 

Family squabbling is the greatest evil of all, and we had better do anything than be altogether by the ears.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

When he appeared amongst them, there was always a squabble.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Dave and Sol-leks alone were unaltered, though they were made irritable by the unending squabbling.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

It was evident that the squabble with the printer had not affected his equanimity.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I wanted to be the one to tell you the grand surprise, and have 'first skim' as we used to say when we squabbled about the cream.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

After a good deal of squabbling,” said my aunt, “I got him; and he has been here ever since. He is the most friendly and amenable creature in existence; and as for advice! But nobody knows what that man's mind is, except myself.”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

There were no more spats and squabbles, no more tiny rages nor attempts at growling; while the adventures toward the far white wall ceased altogether.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

I was not made for the desk and counting-house, for petty business squabbling, and legal jangling.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Farther discussion was prevented by various bustles: first, the driver came to be paid; then there was a squabble between Sam and Rebecca about the manner of carrying up his sister's trunk, which he would manage all his own way; and lastly, in walked Mr. Price himself, his own loud voice preceding him, as with something of the oath kind he kicked away his son's port-manteau and his daughter's bandbox in the passage, and called out for a candle; no candle was brought, however, and he walked into the room.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

And there were the dogs, ever squabbling and bickering, bursting into uproars and creating confusions.

(White Fang, by Jack London)