Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (US Und.) a swindle based on short-changing a cashier.

1937

(con. 1905–25) E.H. Sutherland Professional Thief (1956) 74: The hype is also known as ‘laying the note’ and ‘the stingaree’.

2. (US) a mean person.

1921

Esther Bigeou ‘Stingaree Blues’ 🎵 I tried to treat him right, / I kissed him every night, / But it was all in vain, / He gave the door to me, / Sweet papa Stingaree.