Who invented the "o'clock"?

Question

You know like one o'clock, two o'clock, three o'clock... Who said it and what is it's significance?

Answer 1

As has been noted, "o'clock" is short for "of the clock" meaning "according to the clock". The fuller form of the expression is found as early as the late 14th century (in Chaucer).
http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19970102

But we can perhaps go a bit further, to the origins of the mechanical clock itself and the very word "clock". "Clock" comes from Latin 'cloca' meaning "BELL". It was the term applied to the newer devices in use for measuring time in the thirteenth century. As the word itself suggests, the key feature of these clocks is the bell that chimed the hours In fact, these clocks, often set out in public in a tower to make it possible to notify everyone, did not necessarily have hands. The key thing, then, was noifying people of the HOUR of the day (not the minute, and not, at least at first, the quarter or half hour either). This practice of marking/announcing the hours is echoed by the watchman's call "nine o'clock and all is well." Thus it is scarcely surprising that this way of expressing the time did not (and still does not, except in certain highly formal uses) state anything BUT the HOUR.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clock#A_new_mechanism

So you may picture the situation around 1300 -- the bell in the 'clock tower' strikes ONE time announcing that the hour is "one of ['according to'] the clock".

Answer 2

That is a good question. But hard to answer.

My guess "O" may main circle and clock runs in circle. Running in circle and reaching each number

eg. atarting at 12am runs in ( 'o' )circle three times to points at 3 so 3o'clock


therefore:

1 round = 1 o'clock (the bell chimes 1)
2 round = 2 o'clock (the bell chimes 2)
3 round = 3 o'clock (the bell chimes 3)

Answer 3

The first time clock was invented in November 20, 1888, by Willard Bundy, a jeweler in Auburn, New York. A year later his brother, Harlow Bundy, organized the Bundy Manufacturing Company, and began mass producing time clocks. In 1911 they consolidated with Computing-Tabulating-Recording Co, which would later change its name to IBM.

Answer 4

I don;t know but I know "o'clock" stands for "of the clock"

Answer 5

Tbonesteakandbakedpotatoe-O-Matic

Answer 6

Ummm i think it was Mr or Mrs O'Clock

Answer 7

Most likely the old fashion Street Cryer, who used to go around calling: 'Five O'Clock and all is well'.................

Answer 8

It means "Of the clock" it's just a common speech convention.

Answer 9

I think it was O'Henry. But it never keep good time...always a twist ending to the day.

Answer 10

Wow, what a good question. I never thought of it before.