Why does o'clock have an apostrophe? Does it stand for something else?

Question

We were wondering that today in English class.

Answer 1

Hmm, what's this strange word o'clock? The OED has this to say about its usage and origin:

(The hour of the day is expressed by a cardinal numeral, followed by a phrase which was originally a. of the clock, now only retained in formal phraseology; shortened subsequently to †b. of clock, †c. a clock (see A prep.2), d. o'clock, the current modern form; rarer obs. variants were †e. at the clock, and clock simply.)

Of the clock strikes me as pretty similar to on the clock. Does Deford disapprove of the use of o'clock in (2)? Given that (1) means unambiguously the same thing, o'clock is redundant in that context in a way that on the clock isn't in the sports context, but people still say it all the time. Would he try to stamp out this pernicious usage if he ruled the world instead of merely sports? Fortunately, we'll never find out, because he's not the boss of us.

Answer 2

In the Name of Allah.
Salam.
There is a universal rule: minimal effort principle.
People don't like to exert more energy when less would do.
E.g, if you can take a shorter path to your house, you'll not probably take a longer one.
The same applies to language: if you can say 'don't' you'll not use do not, unless other reasons are there which require you to use the longer form, such as rules of politeness and formality.
When English people found they could communicate the meaning of "of the clock" in a shorter phrase, the didn't hesitate to use the shorter form, "o'clock".

Answer 3

O Clock Stands For

Answer 4

It stands for 'of the" clock

Answer 5

"Seven o'clock" used to be "Seven of the clock". The "o'clock" is a contraction.

Answer 6

I always thought it was "of the clock"

Answer 7

it stands for "of the clock"

Answer 8

it stands for "of the clock"

Answer 9

It's a shortening of "of the" or "on the", so it would be "seven of the clock" or "seven on the clock".

Answer 10

of the clock