mountebank
noun
[ ˈmaʊntɪbaŋk ]
• a person who deceives others, especially in order to trick them out of their money; a charlatan.
Similar:
swindler,
charlatan,
confidence trickster,
confidence man,
fraud,
fraudster,
impostor,
trickster,
racketeer,
hoaxer,
sharper,
quack,
rogue,
villain,
scoundrel,
con man,
shark,
flimflammer,
sharp,
twister,
grifter,
bunco artist,
chiseller,
shicer,
magsman,
illywhacker,
defalcator,
Origin:
late 16th century: from Italian montambanco, from the imperative phrase monta in banco! ‘climb on the bench!’ (with allusion to the raised platform used to attract an audience).
