cavillation

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Cavillation \Cav`il*la"tion\ (-l[=a]"sh[u^]n), n. [F.
   cavillation, L. cavillatio.]
   Frivolous or sophistical objection. [Obs.] --Hooker.
   [1913 Webster] Cavilous