The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Kevel \Kev"el\, n. [Prov. E. kevil, cavel, rod, pole, a large
   hammer, horse's bit; cf. Icel. kefli cylinder, a stick,
   mangle, and Dan. kievle a roller.]
   1. (Naut.) A strong cleat to which large ropes are belayed.
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   2. A stone mason's hammer. [Written also cavil.]
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   Kevel head (Naut.), a projecting end of a timber, used as a
      kevel. Kevel

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Cavil \Cav"il\ (k[a^]v"[i^]l), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Caviled or
   Cavilled; p. pr. & vb. n. Caviling or Cavilling.] [L.
   cavillari to practice jesting, to censure, fr. cavilla
   bantering jests, sophistry: cf. OF. caviller.]
   To raise captious and frivolous objections; to find fault
   without good reason.
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         You do not well in obstinacy
         To cavil in the course of this contract. --Shak.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Cavil \Cav"il\, v. t.
   To cavil at. [Obs.] --Milton.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Cavil \Cav"il\, n.
   A captious or frivolous objection.
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         All the cavils of prejudice and unbelief. --Shak.
   [1913 Webster] Caviler

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

cavil
    n 1: an evasion of the point of an argument by raising
         irrelevant distinctions or objections [syn: quibble,
         quiddity, cavil]
    v 1: raise trivial objections [syn: cavil, carp, chicane]