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You are here: Home / Odds / Why Do We Say “O’Clock”?

Why Do We Say “O’Clock”?

April 30, 2020 by Karen Hill

Centuries ago, people said “of the clock” when they told someone the time, as in “six of the clock.”

Then in the 17th and 18th centuries, this phrase was shortened to “of clock” or “a clock.”

Finally, in the early 18th century, these terms were shortened still further to “o’clock.”

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Filed Under: Odds

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Previous Post: « Is Big Ben a Clock?
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