[Ads-l] Etymology of Flack

[Baker, John]

What is the current thinking on the etymology of "flack," a public relations representative?  I am aware that Fred Shapiro had an article in American Speech arguing that it derived from the name of Gene Flack, a publicist in the 1930s, although I have not seen the article.  However, Merriam-Webster wrote in 2008 that they remained skeptical about that and other claims.  I gather that the timing of its usage makes a derivation from "flak," anti-aircraft fire, unlikely.


John Baker






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