slinter

plural slinters

1. AustraliaNew ZealandSouth AfricaA scam or deception; fast one.

   ...or he might work a slinter if you gave him half a chance .

   1976, Frank Sargeson, Sunset Village, page 30

   3 more examples

   Ah, never a mother's love they'll rob, By working a slinter — s'elp me Bob!

   1929, New Zealand Railways Magazine - Volume 4

   It may be able to work a slinter on the young people who will now have to carry the burden of this extra taxation.

   1976, New Zealand. Parliament, Parliamentary Debates. House of Representatives

   Front-line men like Gray would come to feel that some 'drafted to Stationary and Base Hopitals and Hosp. Ships... work all manner of "slinters" [tricks] to stay there for the duration' and 'should be given a chance to show their prowess at stretcher bearing and whizband doging...There is absolutely no comparison between the 2 kinds of work.'

   2018, Anna Rogers, With Them Through Hell, →ISBN, page 14