[shahr-luh-tn-iz-uh
m] 
| 1. | the practice or method of a charlatan. |
| 2. | an instance of this. |
| char·la·tan (shär'lə-tən) n. A person who makes elaborate, fraudulent, and often voluble claims to skill or knowledge; a quack or fraud. [French, from Italian ciarlatano, probably alteration (influenced by ciarlare, to prattle) of cerretano, inhabitant of Cerreto, a city of Italy once famous for its quacks.] char'la·tan'ic (-tān'ĭk), char'la·tan'i·cal adj., char'la·tan·ism, char'la·tan·ry n. |