Quackish
/ˈkwækɪʃ/noun
Resembling or characteristic of a quack, especially in a deceitful or pretentious way.
Did you know?The word comes from quack, a term for a fraudulent medical practitioner, and its rise helped turn a noisy, suspicious sound into a symbol of deception.
Etymological Timeline
Early 17th Century
English
quack
“A noisy boastful person; later, a fraudulent healer or pretender”
17th Century
English
quackish
“Having the characteristics of a quack; deceitful in a medical or pretentious way”
Origin unclear; likely imitative
English
quack
“Originally an imitative word for the sound of a duck or a croaking voice”
Modern English
English
quackish
“Pretending to knowledge or skill, especially in medicine”