palterern.
/ˈpɔːlt(ə)rə/, /ˈpɒlt(ə)rə/, U.S. /ˈpɔlt(ə)rər/, /ˈpɑlt(ə)rər/ A person who palters; an equivocator, a prevaricator; a huckster, a haggler; a trifler.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrespect > [noun] > one who disrespects > one who trifles with something serious
palterer1589
sporter1733
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > evasive deception, shiftiness > [noun] > one who acts evasively
corner-creeper1563
palterer1589
shuffler1621
prevaricator1650
hedger1728
twister1834
pussyfoot1907
pussyfooter1923
1589 J. Rider Bibliotheca Scholastica 1052 A Palterer. Sordidus, vide dodger.
1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes A chuffe..a pinch-penny, a paltrer, a penie-father.
1599 T. Nashe Lenten Stuffe 7 There be of you..that will account me a paltrer for hanging out the signe of the redde Herring in my titlepage, and no such feast towards for ought you can see.
1642 D. Rogers Naaman 564 Turn our eyes off from all slighters and paltrers with God.
1815 C. Lloyd Rosamunda v. v. 63 Poor perjured palterer.
1860 J. L. Motley Hist. Netherlands (1868) I. i. 20 The well-known voice, which had so often silenced the Flemish palterers and intriguers.
1903 T. W. H. Crosland Blood in Five Notions 93 Babblers, brawlers, palterers, blind, Who would barter their heritage, crook the knee, For a little present quiet.
1996 Internat. Affairs 72 749 The circuit from conjurer to palterer runs the gamut of scepticism about the very idea of specialness.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1589