What is "pilpul"

Pilpul \Pil"pul\, n. [Aramaic pilp[=u]l; cf. Heb. pilpel to spice, to season, dispute violently.] Among the Jews, penetrating investigation, disputation, and drawing of conclusions, esp. in Talmudic study. -- Pil"pul*ist, n. -- Pil`pul*is"tic,

n. 1 sophistry, hair-splitting, quibbling. 2 (cx Judaism English) Penetrating investigation, disputation, and drawing of conclusions, especially in Talmudic study.

The Hebrew term pilpul ( Hebrew: פלפול, from "pepper," loosely meaning "sharp analysis") refers to a method of studying the Talmud through intense textual analysis in attempts to either explain conceptual differences between various halakhic rulings or to reconcile any apparent contradictions presented from various readings of different texts. Pilpul has entered English as a colloquialism used by some to indicate extreme disputation or casuistic hairsplitting.