Hypertext Webster Gateway: "swindler"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Swindler \Swin"dler\, n. [G. schwindler, fr. schwindlen to be
dizzy, to act thoughtlessly, to cheat, fr. schwindel
dizziness, fr. schwinden to vanish, to disappear, to dwindle.
See {Swim} to be dizzy.]
One who swindles, or defrauds grossly; one who makes a
practice of defrauding others by imposition or deliberate
artifice; a cheat.
Syn: Sharper; rogue.
Usage: {Swindler}, {Sharper}. These words agree in describing
persons who take unfair advantages. A swindler is one
who obtains money or goods under false pretenses. A
sharper is one who cheats by sharp practice, as in
playing at cards or staking what he can not pay.
Fraud and injustice soon follow, and the dignity
of the British merchant is sunk in the
scandalous appellation of a swindler. --V. Knox.
Perhaps you 'll think I act the same As a sly
sharper plays his game. --Cotton.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
swindler
n : a person who swindles you by means of deception or fraud
[syn: {chiseller}, {chiseler}, {gouger}, {scammer}, {sharper},
{sharpie}, {sharpy}]
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