Monday, 7 August 2023

The Italian origins of the word 'mountebank'

'Mountebank' is a word borrowed from Italian 'montambanco'. The word entered the English language some time around 1577.


mountebank [noun] [1577]
  • a person who sells quack medicines from a platform
  • a boastful unscrupulous pretender
  • charlatan
See 'mountebank' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Italian.

Etymology: Italian 'montimbanco' from 'montare' to mount + 'in' in, on + 'banco, banca' bench
See more loan words from 1500s.


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