mountebank
pronunciation
How to pronounce mountebank in British English:
UK [ˈmaʊntɪbæŋk]
How to pronounce mountebank in American English:
US [ˈmaʊntəˌbæŋk]
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- Noun:
- a flamboyant deceiver; one who attracts customers with tricks or jokes
Word Origin
- mountebank (n.)
- "a doctor that mounts a bench in the market, and boasts his infallible remedies and cures" [Johnson], 1570s, from Italian montambanco, contraction of monta in banco "quack, juggler," literally "mount on bench" (to be seen by crowd), from monta, imperative of montare "to mount" (see mount (v.)) + banco, variant of banca "bench" (see bank (n.2)). Figurative and extended senses from 1580s.
Example
- 1. For letting this mountebank slip through my blockade .
- 2. Yet I wager that I can shave a cheek with ten times more dexterity than any street mountebank .
- 3. He went instantly to the prison , descended to the cell of the " mountebank , " called him by name , took him by the hand , and spoke to him .
- 4. Usually once we thought she was mountebank , but face up the disaster , she is the ambassado of love .
- 5. The two children , picked up by some policeman and placed in the refuge , or stolen by some mountebank , or having simply strayed off in that immense chinese puzzle of a paris , did not return .