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Webster 1913 Edition

Squabble

Squab′ble

(skwŏb′b’l)
,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Squabbled
(-b’ld)
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Squabbling
(-blĭng)
.]
[Cf. dial. Sw.
skvabbel
a dispute,
skvappa
to chide.]
1.
To contend for superiority in an unseemly manner; to scuffle; to struggle; to wrangle; to quarrel.
2.
To debate peevishly; to dispute.
The sense of these propositions is very plain, though logicians might
squabble
a whole day whether they should rank them under negative or affirmative.
I. Watts.
Syn. – To dispute; contend; scuffle; wrangle; quarrel; struggle.

Squab′ble

,
Verb.
T.
(Print.)
To disarrange, so that the letters or lines stand awry or are mixed and need careful readjustment; – said of type that has been set up.

Squab′ble

,
Noun.
A scuffle; a wrangle; a brawl.

Webster 1828 Edition

Squabble

SQUABBLE

,
Verb.
I.
[I know not the origin of this word, but it seems to be from the root of wabble; G., to vibrate, to quake, to be sleek. See Squab.]
1.
To contend for superiority; to scuffle; to struggle; as, two persons squabble in sport.
2.
To contend; to wrangle; to quarrel.
3.
To debate peevishly; to dispute. If there must be disputes, it is less criminal to squabble than to murder.
[Squabble is not an elegant word in any of its uses. In some of them it is low.]

SQUABBLE

,
Noun.
A scuffle; a wrangle; a brawl; a petty quarrel.

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