Brewer's: Katerfelto

A generic name for a quack or charlatan. Katerfelto was a celebrated quack or influenza doctor. He was a tall man, who dressed in a long black gown and square cap. In 1782 he exhibited in London his solar microscope, and created immense excitement by showing the infusoria of [muddy] water. The doctor used to aver that he was the greatest philosopher since the time of Sir Isaac Newton.

And Katerfelto with his hair on end, At his own wonders wondering for his bread.

Cowper: The Task: The Winter Evening (1782).

Related Content Allusions Foreign Words and Phrases Latin and Greek Word Elements Names: Their Origins and Meanings Old Testament Names Mythology Ancient Greek Literature & Mythology The Bible (King James version) The Koran (translation by J. M. Rodwell) Shakespeare's Plays Tales from Shakespeare (Charles and Mary Lamb) Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language