Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Palter \Pal"ter\, v. t.
   To trifle with; to waste; to squander in paltry ways or on
   worthless things. [Obs.] ``Palter out your time in the penal
   statutes.'' --Beau. & Fl.

Palter \Pal"ter\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Paltered}; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Paltering}.] [See {Paltry}.]
   1. To haggle. [Obs.] --Cotgrave.

   2. To act in insincere or deceitful manner; to play false; to
      equivocate; to shift; to dodge; to trifle.

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

            Who never sold the truth to serve the hour, Nor
            paltered with eternal God for power.  --Tennyson.

   3. To babble; to chatter. [Obs.]

Source : WordNet®

palter
     v : be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or
         withhold information [syn: {beat around the bush}, {equivocate},
          {tergiversate}, {prevaricate}]