subs. (common).—1. Originally (and properly) a fraud or imposition (in which sense see SWINDLER). Also 2 (loosely and frequently), any speculation or matter of chance: e.g., a lottery, a toss for drinks, a sweepstakes, a race, etc.; also (more loosely still) any transaction in which money passes: e.g., ‘What’s the SWINDLE?’ = ‘What’s to pay (or the damage)?’ ‘Why don’t you pay the girl her SWINDLE?’ = ‘Why don’t you give the girl her price?’ SWINDLER (q.v.) is quite another matter, and all quots. for it, for subs. 1, and the verbal sense are there given for the sake of distinction.
1870. Legal Reports, ‘Decision of PIGOTT, J.’ As to the second plea that SWINDLE had not a libellous meaning, this was in a great measure carried out by the plaintiff himself, who had advertised that he was getting up a SWINDLE. In sporting circles they certainly did deal with an extraordinary vocabulary, and apparently did not use this word SWINDLE in Dr. Johnson’s sense. Ibid., ‘Evidence in Davey v. Walmsley.’ Mr. Hawkins—‘Is the word SWINDLE commonly applied to things like “specs.”?’ Witness (Mr. Paul Walmsley, Editor, Racing Investigator)—‘Certainly! I never heard them called by any other name. It is a regular byword with us as a racing phrase. Lotteries are announced and commonly known as SWINDLES.’
