Quack

One who, without sufficient knowledge, study, or previous preparation, undertakes to practice medicine or surgery, under the pretense that he possesses secrets in those arts. • The origin of the word "quack" is not clearly ascertained. Johnson derives it from the words "to quack," or gabble like a goose. Butler uses this verb as descriptive of the encomiums empirics heap upon their nostrums. Thus, in Hudibras, "To quack of universal cures." The Egyptian hieroglyphic for a doctor was a duck, and it has been a question whether this may not form a clue to the derivation of the word "quack." The English quack — or "quacksalber," as it was originally written — is from the German qv Mcksalber, or rather the Dutch kwaksalver, which Bilderdyk states should be more properly kwabsalver, from kwab, a wen, and zalver, to salve or anoint.

5 Notes & Queries.

QUACUNQUE VIA DATA (Lat.) Whichever way you take it; in whichever view of the case.

2 Burrows, 980; 2 Gall. (U. S.) 26.

QUADRAGESIMA (Lat.) The fortieth. The first Sunday in Lent is so called because it is about the fortieth day before Easter.

Cowell.