¦ noun
1. a feeling of doubt or hesitation with regard to the morality or propriety of an action.
2. historical a unit of weight equal to 20 grains used by apothecaries.
archaic a very small amount.
¦ verb hesitate or be reluctant to do something that one thinks may be wrong.
Origin
ME: from Fr. scrupule or L. scrupulus, from scrupus, lit. 'rough pebble', (figuratively) 'anxiety'.