or quacksalve, quack, subs. (old: now recognised).—Originally a charlatan; a travelling empiric who cackled about his salves: shortened by Wycherley to QUACK, which now = any noisy, specious cheat. Also as adj. and verb.—B. E. (c. 1696); GROSE (1785). Whence QUACKERY = professional humbug.
1579. GOSSON, The Schoole of Abuse [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, i. 604. He has the substantive QUACKSALVER].
1598. JONSON, Every Man in his Humour, iii. 2. All mere gulleries…. I could say what I know … but I profess myself no QUACKSALVER.
1608. MIDDLETON, A Mad World, my Masters, ii. 6. Cour. Tut, man, any QUACKSALVING terms will serve for this purpose.
1625. MASSINGER, The Parliament of Love, iv. 5.
| I give you leave: what should a QUACKSALVE, | |
| A fellow that does deal in drugs … | |
| Do with so fair a bedfellow? |
1672. WYCHERLEY, Love in a Wood, iii. QUACKS in their Bills, and Poets in the titles of their Plays, do not more disappoint us, then Gallants with their promises; but I trust none.
