Colophon
/ˈkɒl.ə.fɒn/noun
A note, emblem, or publisher’s information traditionally placed at the end of a book.
Did you know?The word comes from Colophon, an ancient Greek city whose name was associated with a peak or highest point; printers later used it for a book’s concluding mark.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
κολοφών (kolophṓn)
“Summit, peak, or highest point”
Classical Greek
Greek
Κολοφών (Kolophṓn)
“The name of the ancient city of Colophon in western Anatolia”
Late Antiquity
Latin
colophon
“A summit, culmination, or concluding statement”
15th Century
Latin
colophon
“A printer’s concluding inscription or device in a book”
16th Century
English
colophon
“An inscription or emblem at the end of a printed book”
Modern English
English
colophon
“A book’s closing publication note, printer’s mark, or concluding emblem”
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