1774, "publisher's inscription at the end of a book," from Latin colophon, from Greek kolophon "summit, final touch" (see hill).
an inscription placed at the end of a book or manuscript and giving details of its publication, e.g., the name of the printer and the date of printing. Colophons are sometimes found in manuscripts and books made from the 6th century AD on. In medieval and Renaissance manuscripts, a colophon was occasionally added by the scribe and provided facts such as his name and the date and place of his completion of the work, sometimes accompanied by an expression of pious thanks for the end of his task.