Quacksalver definition

kwăksălvər

A quack or charlatan.

noun

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(now rare) A quack; charlatan.

noun

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(archaic) One falsely claiming to possess medical or other skills, especially one who dispenses potions, ointments, etc. supposedly having curative powers.

noun

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Alternative Forms

Alternative Form of quacksalver - quack-salver

Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:

quacksalver

Plural:

quacksalvers

Origin of quacksalver

Obsolete Dutch Middle Dutch quac- unguent or quacken to quack, boast Middle Dutch salven to salve

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
c 1570, from Dutch kwakzalver (“hawker of salve"), from Middle Dutch quacken (“to brag, boast; to croak")

From Wiktionary