An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Quacksalber

by Friedrich Kluge

Quacksalber, m., ‘quack’; ModHG. only; orig. a LG. word; corresponding to E. quack, Du. kwakzalver, a compound of zalf, ‘salve’ (comp. OHG. salbâni, ‘seller of ointment, physician’). The first part of the compound seems to come from the vb. quaken (which see), ‘to boast’; hence Quacksalber, ‘boasting physician’?.