blurb

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A short promotional description of a book, film, or product, often quoting praise.

   A glowing blurb from a famous author appeared on the back cover.

2. 2
   verb

   To write a short promotional comment praising a book or product.

   Several well-known critics agreed to blurb her debut novel.

Simplified etymology

Blurb was coined by the American humorist Gelett Burgess in 1914 for a short promotional description of a book or other product. An earlier jacket for one of his books had featured a fictional woman named “Miss Blinda Blurb,” which anticipated the coinage.

Coined by American humorist Gelett Burgess in 1907 on a dust jacket at a trade association dinner. The dust jacket said “YES, this is a “BLURB”!” and featured a (fictitious) “Miss Belinda Blurb” shown calling out, described as “in the act of blurbing”.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary