Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Cavil

Cavil (kav"il) , intransitive verb

[Latin cavillari to practice jesting, to censure, from cavilla bantering jests, sophistry: compare Old French caviller.]

To raise captious and frivolous objections; to find fault without good reason.
You do not well in obstinacy To cavil in the course of this contract. — Shakespeare

Cavil , transitive verb

To cavil at. [Obsolete] — Milton

Cavil , noun

A captious or frivolous objection.
All the cavils of prejudice and unbelief. — Shakespeare