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Barnum

surname taken as the type of excessive hype and promotion, by 1850s, from circus owner P.T. Barnum (1810-1891), described in OED as "a pushing American show-proprietor." The surname is from the place-name Barnham.

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Definitions of Barnum from WordNet

Barnum (n.)
United States showman who popularized the circus (1810-1891);
Synonyms: P. T. Barnum / Phineas Taylor Barnum
From wordnet.princeton.edu