Quacksalver meaning

kwăksălvər
(archaic) One falsely claiming to possess medical or other skills, especially one who dispenses potions, ointments, etc. supposedly having curative powers.
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A quack or charlatan.
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(now rare) A quack; charlatan.
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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