ˈshärlətən, -ət ə n, -ȧl- sometimes ˈch- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Italian ciarlatano, alteration (influenced by Italian ciarlare to chatter, of imitative origin) of cerretano, literally, inhabitant of Cerreto, from Cerreto, village near Spoleto, Italy + Italian -ano -an
1. archaic : a barker of dubious remedies
charlatans at a county fair
2.
a. : a pretender to medical knowledge : quack
charlatans killing their patients by empiric procedures
b. : one making especially noisy or showy pretenses to knowledge or ability : fraud
replaced by the charlatans and the rogues — by those without learning, without scruples, or both — Asher Moore