Etymology: sleight (I)
1.
a. : expertness and adroitness in manual manipulation : manual dexterity
b. : skill and dexterity in the performance of juggling or conjuring tricks
the simplest card trick defeats me if it demands sleight of hand — Geoffrey Household
c. : adroitness and cleverness in accomplishing a deception
verbal sleight of hand — Marjorie Grene
music that is free of self-conscious formulas and tricks of stylistic sleight of hand — Winthrop Sargeant
2.
a. : a trick of conjuring or juggling requiring sleight of hand
b. : a cleverly executed trick or deception
the sleight of hand by which a faction of the people as voters is invested with the authority of the people — Walter Lippmann