The means of evading; an evasive argument, shuffling excuse, subterfuge.

A fraudulent or evasive device, a stratagem; a piece of sophistry, an evasion, subterfuge.

A device or stratagem used to escape the force of an argument, to avoid blame, or to justify one's conduct; a deceptive or evasive statement…

Turning in a dishonourable manner from straightforward action or statement; shifting, shuffling, equivocation, prevarication. Also with a and plural…

Distraction or diversion intended to gain or waste time; trifling with a person's attention or time. Also: an instance of this. Obsolete.

An evasive trick, evasion, subterfuge.

= subterfuge, n. 1a.

In unfavourable sense: A dishonest mental reservation; a quibbling evasion; a consciously bad excuse.

a shuffle.

A made-up story, a deceit.

An attempted shuffle or evasion.