English · Idiom Historical

to split hairs

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

To argue over petty points, make fine, cavilling distinctions, quibble over trifles.

Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)

Sources & notes

Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.

Topics: Hair Historical slang (1800s)

Common questions

What does “to split hairs” mean?

To argue over petty points, make fine, cavilling distinctions, quibble over trifles.

Is “to split hairs” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.

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