Middletown Forum : OK Barber Shop http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/ This is an XML content feed of; Middletown Forum : About Middletown : OK Barber Shop Mon, 05 Oct 2026 15:14:36 +0000 Sun, 06 Sep 2009 22:12:11 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 10.12 360 www.middletownusa.com/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=1891 Middletown Forum http://middletownusa.com/images/blog-logo.jpg http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/ OK Barber Shop : I'll go with the Choctaw... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1891&PID=10808&title=ok-barber-shop#10808 Author: Hermes
Subject: 1891
Posted: Sep 06 2009 at 10:12pm

I'll go with the Choctaw oke. Makes more sense than the rest.  Big%20smile
 
Wakan Tankan Nici Un....May the great spirit walk with you-Cherokee
]]> Sun, 06 Sep 2009 22:12:11 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1891&PID=10808&title=ok-barber-shop#10808 OK Barber Shop : What is the origin of the word... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1891&PID=10807&title=ok-barber-shop#10807 Author: Vivian Moon
Subject: 1891
Posted: Sep 06 2009 at 4:36pm

What is the origin of the word 'OK'?...Thanks Vivian

There have been numerous attempts to explain the emergence of this curious colloquial expression, which seems to have swept into popular use in the US during the mid-19th century. Most of them are undoubtedly pure speculation. It does not seem at all likely, from the linguistic and historical evidence, that it derives from the Scots expression 'och aye', the Greek ola kala ('it is good'), the Choctaw Indian oke or okeh ('it is so'), the French aux Cayes ('from Cayes', a port in Haiti with a reputation for good rum) or au quai ('to the quay', as supposedly used by French-speaking dockers), or the initials of a railway freight agent called Obediah Kelly who is said to have written them on lading documents he had checked.

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'.

The only other theory with at least a degree of plausibility is that the term originated among Black slaves of West African origin, and represents a word meaning 'all right, yes indeed' in various West African languages. Unfortunately, historical evidence enabling the origin of this expression to be finally and firmly established may be hard to unearth
]]> Sun, 06 Sep 2009 16:36:58 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1891&PID=10807&title=ok-barber-shop#10807