ˈhair-splitter
One who ‘splits hairs’ (hair n. 8 j); one who makes minute or over-refined distinctions.
| 1849 Clough Dipsychus ii. i. 42 A critical hair-splitter! 1853 De Quincey Autobiog. Sk. Wks. I. 60 Not the cavilling hair-splitter, but, on the contrary, the single eyed servant of truth. 1857 Darwin in Life & Lett. (1887) II. 105 It is good to have hair-splitters and lumpers. Note, Those who make many species are the splitters. |