Chicane

(shē-kān'), n. [Fr. chicane, originally a crumb, a small part; hence, fineness, subtilty, O. Fr. chic, a small piece; finesse, subtilty, from O. Fr. & Catalan chic, Sp. chico, little, either from Lat. cicus, It. cica, trifle, or from Basque chikī-a, chik-er-ra, little, small.] An artful subterfuge, or trick, designed to lead away from the merits of a case or question;—specifically applied to legal proceedings; shift; cavil; sophistry. “To shuffle from them by chicane.” Burke.

To cut short this chicane, I propound it fairly to your own conscience. Berkeley.