Charlatan

A charlatan, also called a swindler or mountebank, is someone who pretends to be a doctor to get money, power or fame.

Etymology

The English word comes from French charlatan, a seller of medicines who might advertise his presence with music and an outdoor stage show. The best known of the charlatans in Paris was Tabarin, who inspired the 17th-century playwright Molière. The word is also similar to the Spanish word charlatán, which describes someone who loves talking.

Etymologists trace charlatan ultimately from Italian. It may have come from two different words, or a mixture of the two. One possible origin word is ciarlare,[1] which means 'to chatter or prattle'. Another is the word cerretano, meaning a resident of the village Cerreto di Spoleto in Umbria, which was known for tricking others in the 16th century.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Charlatan" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 5 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 891.
  2. ↑ Charlatan. Dictionary.com
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