punctilio
/pʌŋ(k)ˈtɪlɪəʊ
/noun (plural punctilios)
A fine or petty point of conduct or procedure: both counsel and judges follow the punctilios of court procedure and conduct [mass noun]: a stickler for punctilio...
- He was wounded fighting at barricades adjacent to Paris's northern customs barrier and described the moment with the clinical punctilio of a doctor's son.
- Mercifully the SS men got off the bus before his punctilio caused him to unmask his disguise.
- Parliament has made it abundantly clear in those sections of the Criminal Code having to do with the form of indictments and informations that the punctilio of an earlier age is no longer to bind us.
Synonyms
detail, finer point, nicety, particular, subtlety, nuance, refinement, distinction
Origin
Late 16th century: from Italian puntiglio(n-) and Spanish puntillo, diminutive of punto 'a point'.
Rhymes
- rise to the occasion
- rise with the sun (or lark)
- rishi
- rishon
- going-about
- going-away
- going-away club
- going barrel
- going concern
- going down
- going!, gone!
- going off
- going on —— (also going on for ——)
- going order
- going-out
- going-over
- goings-on
- going strong
- going together
- going train
- going wheel
- gointer
- go into
- go into action
- go into detail