Criminal’s caught out swindler (4)
I believe the answer is:
rook
'criminal's' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot see how one could define the other.
'caught out swindler' is the wordplay.
'caught' becomes 'c' (cricket abbreviation).
'out' indicates named letters should be taken away.
'swindler' becomes 'crook' (I've seen this in another clue).
'crook' with 'c' taken away is 'ROOK'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for rook that I've seen before include "16" , "Rank - and - file man" , "flier" , "Swindle (colloq.); bird" , "Black bird - cheat - chess piece" .)