[ad. G. schwindler giddy-minded person, extravagant projector, esp. in money matters, cheat, f. schwindeln to be giddy, act thoughtlessly or extravagantly, swindle, going back to MHG. swindeln, OHG. suintilôn (cf. MHG. swindel, swintel, OHG. suuintilôd dizziness), frequent. f. suintan to waste away, languish, lose consciousness, etc.: see SWIND v. and -LE. Cf. Du. zwendelaar.
Orig. a cant word, said to have been introduced into London by German Jews about 1762, and to have been first used in literature by Lord Mansfield. See Bailey’s Dict. ed. 1782, and Slang Dict. (1873), 317.]
One who practises fraud, imposition, or mean artifice for purposes of gain; one who systematically defrauds or cheats others; a cheat.
1775. Ann. Reg., Chron., 175/2. Dupes to the designing arts of the wretches distinguished by the name of Swindlers.
1797. (title) Adventures of the Extravagant Wit; or the English Swindler, shewing the various Frauds and Tricks he committed in London and the most distant parts of the Globe.
1819. Shelley, Peter Bell 3rd, II. ii. A swindler, living as he can.
1889. Jessopp, Coming of Friars, iii. 159. The swindler always thinks his victim a fool.
Hence (all nonce-wds.) Swindlerdom, the realm of swindlers, swindlers collectively; Swindlership, the condition of a swindler; Swindlery, the practice of a swindler, swindling.
1865. Pall Mall G., 16 Aug., 9/1. The enterprise of London *Swindlerdom seems to be illimitable.
1893. C. J. Ribton-Turner, in Standard, 6 June, 6/3. When a new dodge makes its appearance in the domain of swindlerdom I have usually remarked that it runs its course through a large variety of phases before it becomes finally discredited and disused.
1855. Bury & Norwich Post, 21 Nov., 1/1. The evidence which convinces the Berlin, London, Paris, and Brussels police of his Royal Highness’s *swindlership must be also held to be sufficient for her Majesty’s British Legation at Berlin.
1862. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., XII. xi. III. 341. What is truth, falsity, human Kingship, human Swindlership? Ibid. (1833), Misc. Ess., Cagliostro (1872), V. 93. Had there been no sumptuary or adultery or *swindlery Law-acts. Ibid. (1837), Fr. Rev., I. II. vi. Swindlery and Blackguardism have stretched hands across the Channel, and saluted mutually.
