March 07, 2007, 07:02
shufitz"canard"
In French, a
canard is a duck.
In English, a
canard is "an unfounded rumour or story".
What's the connection, and how did the word come into English?
On a quick check I saw that
Compact OED explains, "French, ‘duck’, also ‘hoax’, from Old French
caner ‘to quack’." Why would a hoax be equated with the quack noise?
March 07, 2007, 11:49
Myth JelliesPerhaps for the same reason that an incompetent or shyster is referred to as a "quack"?
March 08, 2007, 01:00
Richard Englishquote:
Perhaps for the same reason that an incompetent or shyster is referred to as a "quack"?
In the UK that expression is generally reserved for those in the medical profession - usually doctors.
March 08, 2007, 13:05
shufitzI'd say that we use
quack solely doctors. For example, you wouldn't refer to a quack nurse.
I'd think
shyster is only for a lawyer.
March 08, 2007, 19:56
KallehYes, in the medical field, from my experience, it is only the physicians who are called "quacks." I often wondered where that word came from.
March 08, 2007, 22:07
Myth JelliesWell I figured any snake oil salesman equivalent could be a quack, but the dictionary agrees that it should be a medical charlatan
From the online etymology dictionary...
quack (v.)
"to make a duck sound," 1617, quelke, of echoic origin (cf. M.Du. quacken, O.C.S. kvakati, L. coaxare "to croak," Gk. koax "the croaking of frogs," Hitt. akuwakuwash "frog"). M.E. on the quakke (14c.) meant "hoarse, croaking."
quack (n.)
"medical charlatan," 1638, short for quacksalver (1579), from Du. kwaksalver, lit. "hawker of salve," from M.Du. quacken "to brag, boast," lit. "to croak" (see quack (v.)) + zalf "salve." Cf. Ger. Quacksalber, Dan. kvaksalver, Swed. kvacksalvare.