What is the Latin word for hair-splitting?

The usual Latin words for “hair-splitting” are argūtĭae, dūmētum, captātiō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“hair-splitting” in Latin

argūtĭaeThat which is clear to the senses dūmētumthicket captātiōlegacy-hunting; feint

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

hair-splitting s.

minuta subtilitas (minute exactness, as a property): argutiae: disserendi spinae, or spinae partiendi et definiendi (thorny distinctions, etc.): dumeta (opposed to liber campus, free, flowing discussion): verborum angustiae et omnes litterarum anguli (Cic., petty verbal distinctions; arguments founded on words, not things): verborum aucupium or captatio (the seizing of an opponent’s words, etc.).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for hair-splitting?: The usual Latin words for “hair-splitting” are argūtĭae, dūmētum, captātiō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.