QUACKSALVER

Etymology

Noun

quacksalver (plural quacksalvers)

(archaic) One falsely claiming to possess medical or other skills, especially one who dispenses potions, ointments, etc, supposedly having curative powers; a quack. [from c. 1570]

Synonyms

• medicaster (dated)

• quack

Source: Wiktionary

Quack"sal*ver, n. Etym: [D. kwakzalver; cf. kwakzalven to quack or boast of one's salves. See Quack, Salve, n.]

Definition: One who boasts of his skill in medicines and salves, or of the efficacy of his prescriptions; a charlatan; a quack; a mountebank. [Obs.] Burton.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition