charlatan

views updated May 29 2018

char·la·tan / ˈshärlətən; ˈshärlətn/ • n. a person falsely claiming to have a special knowledge or skill; a fraud.DERIVATIVES: char·la·tan·ism / -lətəˌnizəm; -lətnˌizəm/ n.char·la·tan·ry / ˈshärlətənrē; -lətnrē/ n.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

charlatan

views updated May 29 2018

charlatan a person falsely claiming to have a special knowledge or skill. The word is recorded from the early 17th century, denoting an itinerant seller of supposed remedies; it comes via French from Italian ciarlatano, from ciartare ‘to babble’.

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable ELIZABETH KNOWLES

charlatan

views updated May 09 2018

charlatan †mountebank; quack XVII; pretentious impostor XIX. — F. — It. ciarlatano, f. ciarlare babble.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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