A quibble is a common plot device, used to fulfil the exact verbal conditions of an agreement in order to avoid the intended meaning. Its most common uses are in legal bargains and in fantasy, magically enforced ones.John Grant and John Clute, The Encyclopedia of Fantasy, "Quibbles" p 796 ISBN 0-312-19869-8 Clever and unusual quibbles startle and please readers, but clumsily contrived ones can seem artificial ways to escape a fictional problem.