Where Does the Term Chiseling Come from?

Slang sense of "to cheat, defraud" is first recorded in 1808 as chizzel; origin and connection to the older word are obscure (but compare slang sense of gouge; perhaps the sense is "to cut close" as in a bargain). Related: Chiseled; chiseling.

Where did the word chisel come from?

Etymology. Chisel comes from the Old French cisel, modern ciseau, Late Latin cisellum, a cutting tool, from caedere, to cut.

What does chisel mean in slang?

Slang. a. to cheat or swindle (someone). b. to get by cheating or trickery. 4. to work with a chisel.