ballyhoo etymology

Etymology

The word "ballyhoo" comes from two Hindi words:

• "bali" (बलि) meaning "sacrifice" or "offering"
• "hu" (हु) meaning "to call out" or "to raise a cry"

Meaning

Ballyhoo refers to:

• Exaggerated publicity or promotion: Noisy or over-the-top advertising or hype designed to attract attention.
• Sensational or sensationalized news: A sensationalized story or event that is embellished or exaggerated for effect.

Origin

The term originated in the early 19th century. It was initially used in India to describe a type of sacrifice or ritual offering to Hindu gods. The "hu" part of the word refers to the loud cries or incantations that accompanied the sacrifice.

Later, the term was adopted by American showmen and circus promoters in the mid-19th century. They used it to describe the loud and boisterous tactics they employed to attract crowds to their performances. Over time, "ballyhoo" came to be associated with any form of exaggerated or sensationalized promotion or publicity.

ballyhoo relate terms

• hype

  Etymology First attested in English in the 1890s Shortened form of hyperbole which

• plug

  Etymology plug verb from Middle English pluggen pluggon probably from Middle Dutch

• zilch

  Etymology and Origin The word zilch originated in the German language where it was fir

• publicity

  Etymology and Meaning of Publicity The word publicity comes from the Latin word publicus

• advertise

  Etymology The word advertise originates from the Latin word advertere which me

• promotion

  Etymology The word promotion comes from the Latin word promovere which means to mov

• catch

  Etymology The word catch comes from the Middle English word cacchen which itself der

• conjure

  Etymology Latin conjuro meaning to swear to bind by oath Proto Indo European root

• negotiation

  Etymology Middle English negotiacion from Anglo Norman French negociacion from Latin

• contentment

  Etymology Old French contentement from Late Latin contēntum neuter past participle