Etymology Map
Back to all words

Quack

3 stages from Dutch to English.

Today it means a person who dishonestly claims medical knowledge

Where does the word "quack" come from? It comes from Dutch kwakzalver, passing through English before entering English (1650s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
kwakzalver
Dutch · 1500s
"salve-seller"
a hawker of salves, from 'kwakken', to chatter or boast, and 'zalf', ointment
2
Stage 2 of 3
quacksalver
English · 1570s
"fake doctor"
borrowed for travelling medicine sellers
3
Stage 3 of 3
quack
English · 1650s
"fake doctor"
shortened from 'quacksalver'
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Read the full story

Quack’s story begins in Dutch: kwakzalver meant “salve-seller.” A hawker of salves, from 'kwakken', to chatter or boast, and 'zalf', ointment. By 1570s, the word had taken hold in English as quacksalver. Borrowed for travelling medicine sellers. It reached English by 1650s as quack. Shortened from 'quacksalver'. Today, quack means a person who dishonestly claims medical knowledge.