SUPREME WORD OF THE DAY WEDNESDAY : MOUNTEBANK

MOUNTEBANK

PRONUNCIATION:

(MOUN-tuh-bangk)

MEANING:

noun: An unscrupulous pretender; a quack.

ETYMOLOGY:

A mountebank was a hawker of quack medicines who peddled his wares from the top of a bench to attract customers. The word is from Italian montambanco (one who climbs on a bench), from montare (to climb) + banco (bench). Earliest documented use: 1577.
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