white label en · ADJ
Etymology
US, 20th century. Originally used for musical vinyl records whose labels had been torn off or covered with a white label by competing DJs to conceal which records they were using.
Meanings
- (not-comparable) Being a generically manufactured product, rebranded with the marketer's or retailer's trade dress: synonym of private label.
- (not-comparable) Unbranded; being a brand name product which has had a white label applied to remove branding so that it can be resold for cheaper without undercutting the value of the brand.
-
(not-comparable) Being a vinyl record with a white label or white background (rather than artwork), typically used for test records or promotion.
2014, Chris Cunningham, quoted in Piers Martin, Aphex Twin: ‘His music is a perfect mix of mystery and adrenaline’ (in The Guardian) https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/sep/19/aphex-twin-richard-james-bjork-ian-rankin I started going to the record exchange in Camden two or three times a week to look for the Rephlex white labels or test pressings that would end up there. I actually got one of the original Caustic Window vinyl LPs from there.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| white-label | alternative | lexicographic |
Coordinates
off-lease · refurbished · system pull · OEM · recertified · open box