Other forms: blurbs
A blurb is the short selling description on a book cover. Write the blurb, the blurb promises, a cover blurb.
It is written to sell rather than to describe, which is why it never gives away the ending. The word was invented as a joke in 1907 by an American humorist on a mock dust jacket, and it stuck.
1nounblurbThe short selling description on a book cover.
“The blurb on the back cover promised a thrilling story, but the book was dull.”
blurb is a description.
Coined by the American humorist Gelett Burgess in 1907 on a joke dust jacket.
coined by Q15998059 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”.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA