Category:Quack

Quack, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Qvacked; p. pr. & vb. n. Quacking.] Etym: [of imitative origin; cf. D. kwaken, g. quacken, quaken, icel. kvaka To twitter.]

1. To utter a sound like the cry of a duck.

2. To make vain and loud pretensions; to boast. " to quack of Universal cures." Hudibras.

3. To act the part of a quack, or pretender.

Quack Quack, n.

1. The cry of the duck, or a sound in imitation of it; a hoarse, Quacking noise. Chaucer.

2. Etym: [cf. Quacksalver.]

Defn: a boastful pretender to medical skill; an empiric; an ignorant Practitioner.

3. Hence, one who boastfully pretends to skill or knowledge of any Kind not possessed; a charlatan. Quacks political; quacks scientific, academical. Carlyle.

Quack Quack, a.

Defn: pertaining to or characterized by, boasting and pretension; Used by quacks; pretending to cure diseases; as, a quack medicine; a Quack doctor.