'Pettifogging' trends on social media as users rush to find out what it means after the archaic term was used during Trump's impeachment trial

  • Accusations of treachery and farce prompted a rebuke by Justice John Roberts
  • Roberts used the word 'pettifogging' - meaning to get bogged down in details - as an example, causing the term to trend on social media
  • Donald Trump became third president to face Senate impeachment trial Tuesday
  • Hearing passed midnight as Democrats and Republicans sparred over evidence 

Social media users scrambled to find out the definition of their 'new favorite word' after the term 'pettifogging' was used during the opening day of Trump's impeachment trial.

Justice John Roberts used the word amid increasingly bitter attacks between Republicans and Democrats as the hearing dragged into the early hours of Wednesday morning. 

Reminding both sides that they were addressing 'the world's greatest deliberative body', he asked them to keep the tone civil and brought up a 1905 trial in which the term 'pettifogging' was used.

It means to focus unnecessarily on petty details, especially when employing underhanded legal methods.

Justice John Roberts casually dropped the term 'pettifogging' on Trump's impeachment trial as proceedings dragged into the early hours of Wednesday, causing it to trend online

Justice John Roberts casually dropped the term 'pettifogging' on Trump's impeachment trial as proceedings dragged into the early hours of Wednesday, causing it to trend online

The term - which was slapped down during a 1905 Senate trial for being uncivil - means to focus on petty details especially when used underhanded legal tactics

The term - which was slapped down during a 1905 Senate trial for being uncivil - means to focus on petty details especially when used underhanded legal tactics

Twitter users who had stayed up late enough to see the term used immediately began poking fun at Roberts

Twitter users who had stayed up late enough to see the term used immediately began poking fun at Roberts

Schooling senators on their history, he said: 'In the 1905 Swayne trial, a senator objected when one of the managers used the word 'pettifogging'.

'The presiding officer said the word ought not to have been used.

'I don't think we need to aspire to that high a standard, but I do think those addressing the Senate should remember where they are.'

The term immediately took off on Twitter and saw a spike of Google searches as users tried to find out exactly what it meant.

'Am I the only person who just looked up the term pettifogging,'  user Demetria asked.

Tracy Molfino wrote: 'Pettifogging rules the day.'

Emily Olkkola added: 'Pettifogging is my new favorite word.'

'Can't wait for pettifogging to be trending tomorrow morning,' Matthew C Silver added.

Jerry Nadler
Pat Cipollone

Ater one particularly caustic exchange between Jerry Nadler (left) and Pat Cipollone (right), Roberts decided to rebuke both sides for using an improper tone

Use of the term sent Twitter into overdrive, as users proclaimed it their 'new favorite word' despite few people having any idea what it meant

Use of the term sent Twitter into overdrive, as users proclaimed it their 'new favorite word' despite few people having any idea what it meant

As the first day of the Senate trial got underway Tuesday, Republicans abruptly abandoned plans to cram opening arguments into two days. 

However, they solidly rejected Democratic demands for more witnesses to expose what they deem Trump's 'trifecta' of offenses.

The daylong session started Tuesday with the setback for Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell and the president's legal team, but it ended near 2 a.m. Wednesday with Republicans easily approving the rest of the trial rules largely on their terms.  

'We have a great case,' Trump said as he began his second day at a global economic forum in Davos, Switzerland. He said he thought his legal time was doing a 'very good job.'

The trial is now on a fast-track with almost no signs of Republican resistance to the actions that led to his impeachment.

'It's about time we bring this power trip in for a landing,' said White House counsel Pat Cipollone, the president's lead lawyer, lashing out at the House Democrats prosecuting the case.

Senators vote on approving the rules for the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington early on Wednesday

Senators vote on approving the rules for the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington early on Wednesday

Democrats, led by Adam Schiff (center), dragged the first day of proceedings long in an attempt to force Republicans to bow to their demands for subpoenas for witnesses and evidence, but were defeated none-the-less

Democrats, led by Adam Schiff (center), dragged the first day of proceedings long in an attempt to force Republicans to bow to their demands for subpoenas for witnesses and evidence, but were defeated none-the-less 

'It's a farce,' he said about the impeachment proceeding, 'and it should end.'

Over and over, Republicans turned back Democratic amendments to subpoena documents from the White House, State Department, Defense Department and budget office. 

By the same 53-47 party-line, they turned away witnesses with front-row seats to Trump's actions including acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and John Bolton, the former national security adviser critical of the Ukraine policy.

Only on one amendment, to allow more time to file motions, did a single Republican, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, join Democrats. But it, too, was rejected, 52-48.

'It's not our job to make it easy for you,' Rep. Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee leading the prosecution, told the Senate. 'Our job is to make it hard to deprive the American people of a fair trial.'

No president has ever been removed from office. With its 53-47 Republican majority, the Senate is not expected to mount the two-thirds vote needed for conviction.