pal·ter | ˈpôltər | verb [no object] archaic 1 equivocate or prevaricate in action or speech: if you palter or double in your answers, I will have thee hun

pal·ter | ˈpôltər | verb [no object] archaic 1 equivocate or prevaricate in action or speech: if you palter or double in your answers, I will have thee hung alive in an iron chain. 2 (palter with) trifle with: this great work should not be paltered with. DERIVATIVES palterer noun ORIGIN mid 16th century (in the sense ‘mumble or babble’): of unknown origin.