'cavil' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'cavillari', where 'cavilla' meant 'mockery' or 'jest'.

'cavillari' passed into Old French as 'caviller' and then entered English in the late 16th century as 'cavil', later producing forms such as 'cavilling' for the -ing form.

Initially it meant 'to mock or jeer'; over time it evolved into its current sense of 'raising petty or trivial objections'.