colophon en · NOUN
Pronunciation
Etymology
Borrowed from Late Latin colophōn, from Ancient Greek κολοφών (kolophṓn, “peak or finishing touch”).
Meanings
- In manuscripts (typically before the invention of printing), the note, usually at the end, left by the scribe who copied it, giving information on his exemplar, where and when the copy was made, and sometimes, his own name.
- An inscription found at the end of, or interspersed with the contents of, Chinese paintings or scrolls, usually left by later literati, appreciators, or collectors.
- A printer's or publisher's identifying inscription or logo appearing at the front or end of a book, or the same appearing on the spine or dust jacket.
- (Internet, broadly) A page on a website identifying the details of its creation, such as the author's name and the technologies used.
-
(obsolete) A finishing stroke or crowning touch.
He comes to the creation of man, and makes him the Colophon, or conclusion of all things else.
1635, John Swan, Speculum Mundi, page 427:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| colophons | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Relateds
coronis · colophony · vignette
Translations (28)
fr achevé d’imprimer (printer notice at the end of a book) · hu impresszum (printer notice at the end of a book) · eo kolofono (end note about author and manuscript) · pl kolofon (end note about author and manuscript) · cmn 版权页 (printer notice at the end of a book) · hu kolofon (printer notice at the end of a book) · fi kolofoni (end note about author and manuscript) · fr colophon (end note about author and manuscript) · pt colofão (end note about author and manuscript) · es colofón (end note about author and manuscript) · gl colofón (end note about author and manuscript) · pl kolofon (printer notice at the end of a book) · nb kolofon (printer notice at the end of a book) · it colofone (end note about author and manuscript) · sv kolofon (printer notice at the end of a book) · ja 奥付 (end note about author and manuscript) · es colofón (finishing stroke or crowning touch) · tr baskı bilgisi (end note about author and manuscript) · lv kolofons (printer notice at the end of a book) · hy հիշատակարան (end note about author and manuscript) · ru колофо́н (end note about author and manuscript) · nb kolofon (end note about author and manuscript) · ru колофо́н (printer notice at the end of a book) · cs kolofon (printer notice at the end of a book) · pt colofão (printer notice at the end of a book) · de Kolophon (end note about author and manuscript) · nl colofon (end note about author and manuscript) · ru концо́вка (printer notice at the end of a book)