- swindler
- 1774, from Ger. Schwindler "giddy person, extravagant speculator, cheat," from schwindeln "to be giddy, act extravagantly, swindle," from O.H.G. swintilon "be giddy," frequentative form of swintan "to languish, disappear;" cognate with O.E. swindan, and probably with swima "dizziness." Said to have been introduced in London by Ger. Jews c.1762. swindle is a back-formation attested from 1782 as a verb, 1833 as a noun.