palter

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To talk insincerely; to prevaricate or equivocate in speech or actions.

   Romans, that have spoke the word, And will not palter.

2. 2
   verb

   To trifle.

   Palter out your time in the penal statutes.

3. 3
   verb

   To haggle.

   Herceler. Voyez to haggle, to dodge. N.b. Cotgrave defines herceler/harceler by example: "to haggle, hucke, hedge, or paulter long in the buying of commodity".

Probably from Middle English *palter (“rag, trifle, worthless thing”), from Middle Low German palter (“rag, cloth”). More at paltry.

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