saltimbanco

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian saltimbanco. Used thus in English because of the association with street performers, seen by the settled population in English-speaking culture as not to be trusted. A more usual and more accurate English word, derived from similar sources, is mountebank.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sæltɪmˈbæŋkəʊ/

Noun

saltimbanco (plural saltimbancos)

1. A quack doctor, a fraud.

   Synonyms: mountebank, quack

Related terms

• mountebank

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Italian

Alternative forms

• saltambanco (uncommon)

Etymology

From saltare in banco (“leap (or somersault) on the bench”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sal.timˈban.ko/, [s̪äl̺t̪imˈbäŋko̞]
• Rhymes: -aŋko
• Hyphenation: sal‧tim‧bàn‧co

Noun

saltimbanco m (plural saltimbanchi, feminine saltimbanca)

1. acrobat

   Synonyms: acrobata, funambolo, giocoliere

2. (figuratively, derogatory) charlatan

   Synonym: ciarlatano

Descendants

• → English: saltimbanco
• → French: saltimbanque
  • → English: saltimbanque
• → Portuguese: saltimbanco
• → Spanish: saltimbanqui

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Spanish

Noun

saltimbanco m (plural saltimbancos)

1. Alternative form of saltimbanqui