charlatan: [17] Charlatan is of Italian origin. It comes from the verb cialare ‘chatter, prattle’. Its original application was to the patter of salesmen trying to sell quack remedies, and hence Italian ciarlatano at first referred to such vendors, and then by extension to any dispenser of impostures. Some etymologists have sought to connect the word with Italian Cerretano, literally ‘inhabitant of Cerreto’, an Italian village supposedly noted for exaggeration, alleging that it may have contributed its suffix to ciarlatano and reinforced its meaning. However that may be, the word reached English in its current from via French charlatan.
charlatan (n.)
1610s, from French charlatan "mountebank, babbler" (16c.), from Italian ciarlatano "a quack," from ciarlare "to prate, babble," from ciarla "chat, prattle," perhaps imitative of ducks' quacking. Related: Charlatanism; charlatanical; charlatanry.
雙語例句
1. That charlatan! I lost thousands of dollars because I followed his advice.
那個騙子! 聽了他的話,我損失了好幾千美元.
來自《簡明英漢詞典》
2. He was exposed as a charlatan.
他被揭穿，原來是個騙子。
來自辭典例句
3. He was sure that he was dealing with a charlatan.
他真以為自己遇上了江湖騙子.
來自辭典例句
4. A charlatan doesn't murder with a knife.
庸醫殺人不用刀.
來自辭典例句
5. George Bush : You mean that OLD KOOK, that CHARLATAN?