Chiseler

Alternative forms

• chiseller

Origin

{1} + -er

Full definition of chiseler

Noun

1. One who uses a chisel for carving.
2. (informal) A cheat; a swindler; a con artist.
• 1941, Groucho_Marx, (movie)course $20,000 is too much. Only a cheap chiseler would ask that much.
3. (informal, Ireland, 20th-century inner-city Dublin slang) A child.
• 1922, James Joyce, ,--Reuben and the son were piking it down the quay next the river on their way to the Isle of Man boat and the young chiseller suddenly got loose and over the wall with him into the Liffey.

Synonyms

• (informal: con artist) sharper, spiv