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Today it means

swindler

a person who cheats others out of money

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Where does the word "swindler" come from? It comes from German Schwindler, and was adopted directly into English (1760s).

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Where does the word "swindler" come from? It comes from German Schwindler, and was adopted directly into English (1760s).

Swindler’s story begins in German: Schwindler meant “cheat.” A giddy, fanciful person, then a cheat, from 'schwindeln', to be dizzy. It reached English by 1760s as swindler. Borrowed in London; the verb 'swindle' was formed from it. Today, swindler means a person who cheats others out of money.

  1. Stage 1 · German · 1700s Schwindler "cheat", a giddy, fanciful person, then a cheat, from 'schwindeln', to be dizzy.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1760s swindler "cheat", borrowed in London; the verb 'swindle' was formed from it.

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