2007-03-05 04:39:03 · 8 answers · asked by bondi b 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
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,
2007-03-05 04:45:03 · answer #1 · answered by dave a 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Right this may be totaly off the mark..but i was once told my grandfather who was a sailor (so may or may not be a reliable source of info) that since the days of old Greek sailors used to paint the letter O.K. on the bow of ships when the were read to sail. OK stood for Ola Kala meaning Everything Good..
I am not claiming that this is the right answer... but that is what i was told
2007-03-05 05:20:53 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Origin: initials of a facetious folk phonetic spelling, e.g., oll or orl korrect representing all correct, first attested in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1839, then used in 1840 by Democrat partisans of Martin Van Buren during his election campaign, who allegedly named their organization, the O.K. Club, in allusion to the initials of Old Kinderhook, Van Buren's nickname, derived from his birthplace Kinderhook, New York]
Usage note Few Americanisms have been more successful than ok, which survived the political campaign of 1840 that fostered it, quickly lost its political significance, and went on to develop use as a verb, adverb, noun, and interjection. The expression was well known in England by the 1880s. Today ok has achieved worldwide recognition and use. It occurs in all but the most formal speech and writing.
2007-03-05 04:43:38 · answer #3 · answered by BARROWMAN 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The oldest written references to 'OK' result from its adoption as a slogan by the Democratic party during the American Presidential election of 1840. Their candidate, President Martin Van Buren, was nicknamed 'Old Kinderhook' (after his birthplace in New York State), and his supporters formed the 'OK Club'.
2007-03-05 04:47:41 · answer #4 · answered by doggiesdude 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The word o.k has its origins of 1500 Century England (old english, such as thee and tho). It is derived from the root word okeydoky!
2007-03-05 05:09:28 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
May derive from the scot expression "och eye" or the Greek "ola kala"(it is good)
2007-03-05 23:05:10 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Oll korrect" ...and many more according to folklore... for more info check out source bellow, O.K.?
2007-03-05 04:46:32 · answer #7 · answered by choose happiness 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
o.k got it
2007-03-05 05:00:48 · answer #8 · answered by Hi! 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋