Quacker

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Someone or something that makes the loud, characteristic sound of a duck ; an individual who pretends to be a medical professional without proper qualifications
2. An entity producing a typical duck-like noise ; a person who deceitfully represents themselves as a doctor or healer
3. A being or object emitting the distinct quack sound associated with ducks ; a false medical practitioner who practices without legitimate credentials

Etymology: The duck sense is plain. "Quack" imitates the call of a duck, and the suffix "-er" turns the verb into a noun for whatever makes that sound. The medical sense comes from a different history. It descends from the Dutch "quacksalver," which combines a Dutch verb meaning to boast or chatter with "salf," meaning salve. A quacksalver was a peddler who promoted his remedies loudly in the marketplace. English adopted the word as "quacksalver," and it was later shortened to "quack." The noun "quacker" was then formed from "quack" with the same agent suffix, so the medical and duck senses meet in the English word only through that shared verb and suffix.

Synonyms: fraud, charlatan, imposter