[char.la.tan] n [It ciarlatano, alter. of cerretano, lit., inhabitant of Cerreto, fr. Cerreto, Italy] (1618) 1: quack
2. "~s killing their patients with empirical procedures"
2: one making usu. showy pretenses to knowledge or ability: fraud, faker -- char.la.tan.ism n -- char.la.tan.ry n