ETYM German schwindler, from schwindlen to be dizzy, to act thoughtlessly, to cheat, from schwindel dizziness, from schwinden to vanish, to disappear, to dwindle. Related to Swim to be dizzy.
A person who swindles by means of deception or fraud; SYN. chiseller, chiseler, gouger, sharper, sharpie, sharpy.