Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
SWINDLE
I. verb (swindled; swindling)
Etymology: back-formation from swindler, from German Schwindler giddy person, from schwindeln to be dizzy, from Old High German swintilōn, frequentative of swintan to diminish, vanish; akin to Old English swindan to vanish
Date: circa 1782
intransitive verb to obtain money or property by fraud or deceit, transitive verb to take money or property from by fraud or deceit, see: cheat swindler noun
II. noun
Date: 1821
an act or instance of swindling ; fraud