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Entry 7 senses · 3 variants Webster, 1913

Quack

/kwăk/ · IPA /kwæk/
01 v. i. To utter a sound like the cry of a duck.
imp. & p. p. Qvacked; p. pr. & vb. n. Quacking
  1. 1.
    To utter a sound like the cry of a duck.
  2. 2.
    To make vain and loud pretensions; to boast.
  3. 3.
    To act the part of a quack, or pretender.
02 n. The cry of the duck, or a sound in imitation of it; a hoarse, quacking noise.
  1. 1.
    The cry of the duck, or a sound in imitation of it; a hoarse, quacking noise.
  2. 2.
    A boastful pretender to medical skill; an empiric; an ignorant practitioner.
  3. 3.
    Hence, one who boastfully pretends to skill or knowledge of any kind not possessed; a charlatan.
    “Quacks political; quacks scientific, academical.” — Carlyle.
03 a. Pertaining to or characterized by, boasting and pretension; used by quacks; pretending to cure diseases; as, a quack medicine; a quack doctor.
  1. 1.
    Pertaining to or characterized by, boasting and pretension; used by quacks; pretending to cure diseases; as, a quack medicine; a quack doctor.