[Ads-l] Etymology of Flack

[Baker, John]

Fred, do you still see the derivation from the name of Gene Flack as viable?


John Baker


From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> On Behalf Of Shapiro, Fred
Sent: Monday, January 15, 2024 2:53 PM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Re: Etymology of Flack

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Subsequent to my American Speech article on "flack," in 2014 I posted the following antedatings:


flack (OED, n.2., 1946)

1933 _Variety_ 20 Sept. Peripatetic Flack Press agent at one of the downtown radio stations.

1933 _Variety_ 7 Oct. Flack Writes Lyndsley Parsons, Monogram press agent.

1933 _Variety_ 24 Oct. Flack Quits Blake McVeigh resigned from the Paramount publicity staff, effective Saturday.


Fred Shapiro



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From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU<mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>> on behalf of Baker, John <000014a9c79c3f97-dmarc-request at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU<mailto:000014a9c79c3f97-dmarc-request at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>>
Sent: Monday, January 15, 2024 2:44 PM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU<mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU<mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>>
Subject: Etymology of Flack

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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