OK ? What does it stand for ? How did the term orginate ? "oh k"... i like using it but I don't get it ?

Question

Update to two answers below: but i still don't understand where "okay" in modern language came from. Surely its a modern word that developed. They didn't use it in Victorian society I doubt.

brookieg8: No - I don't "have to know"... but there is a certain thing called knowledge... and I wondered if there was an interesting reason behind the term "ok" or "okay"... and it seems it does have quite a fascinating origin.

After all this is an "answer" site.. to share knowledge. You do realise that simple fact don't you.

That "OK" with you?

Thanks for the answers - very interesting. Difficult to choose best answer but I shall do so later.

Answer 1

http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_250

Answer 2

I'm a lesbian and as far as the use of homo, I think it might have that "words from elementary school that hurt your feelings" twinge to it more for gay men than gay women. Overall, I don't find the word a problem, the problem comes when the word is used in a hateful way. Many words that are as you say, used within "the community," are just like the "N-word" as it is used in the black community...or using the word f*g within the gay community, it's a way of taking back the negative power of the word as it was used against people and turning it into something celebrated to be used safely within the gay community. However, even within the gay community (and of late, the black community) that word is still very sensitive. So instead, people use the word homo. But I don't go around describing my straight friends as heteros. They are just straight as I am gay. Why even use the word hetero and risk running into a sensitive situation? Truthfully, using the word gay, bi- , or even queer would be more correct anyway.

Answer 3

The historical record shows that O.K. appeared as an abbreviation for oll korrect (a conscious misspelling of "all correct") in Boston newspapers in 1839, and was reinterpreted as "Old Kinderhook" in the 1840 United States presidential election. Because it is a recent word born of word play, and because it is so widely used, O.K. has also invited many folk etymologies.

These competing theories are not supported by the historical written record, except in that folk and joke etymologies influenced the true history of the word. Since the 19th century, the word has spread around the world, the okay spelling of it first appearing in British writing in the 1860s.

Answer 4

no when some french people were unloading stuff from a boat they used to say the consignment was "Au Quai", i.e., on the quay.

And then some americans heard them and started using the expression to mean okay. It would certainly not be used in polite Victorian society, but I am sure that by 1849 it would be commonly used in San Francisco, etc.

You might laugh but this is the generally accepted origin of the expression.

Answer 5

Oll Korrect

Answer 6

Ok is from the older term of okey dokey xxxxxxxx

Answer 7

There are a few theories as to how it came about, check out here:
http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutwordorigins/ok

Answer 8

I think it originates from divers. They communicate via hand signals (you can't talk underwater) and it was a way if asking if everything was alright. Place index finger against end of thumb and you have the letters "OK".

Answer 9

look on the english teaching website onestopenglish. look in the ESOL lesson plans bit...there's a lesson on OK that explains everything...if you've got the time!!

Answer 10

It's short for okay