BICK'ER, verb intransitive 1. To skirmish; to fight off and on; that is, to make repeated attacks. [But in this sense I believe rarely used.] 2. To quarrel; to contend in words; to scold; to contend in petulant altercation. [This is the usual signification.] 3. To move quickly; to quiver; to be tremulous, like flame or water; as the bickering flame; the bickering stream.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI