Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 exptools 1/6/84; site ihuxq.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxj!ihnp4!ihuxq!psfales From: psfales@ihuxq.UUCP (Peter Fales) Newsgroups: net.jokes.d,net.nlang Subject: Re: Origins of Words Message-ID: <1228@ihuxq.UUCP> Date: Mon, 24-Sep-84 09:47:10 EDT Article-I.D.: ihuxq.1228 Posted: Mon Sep 24 09:47:10 1984 Date-Received: Wed, 26-Sep-84 08:17:30 EDT References: <1137@eosp1.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL Lines: 28 > The New York Times, about 10 years ago, had a "reasonable meaning" > contest for the meaning of "Okay". Writers came up with about 10 > origins, all based on "commonsense". Not one quoted any > historical data to suggest that their use of the word was the > oldest. Parodying this style of logic, my wife Elaine suggested the > following derivation of "Okay": > > In medieval Normandy, Monks concerned with loading boats > at the docks would reassure their superiors when all of the > materials were on the dock and ready to load, that is: > "Au Quais". This expression (which sounds about the same as > "okay") entered English via french-Creole speakers in > New Orleans. According to my high school German teacher, the word OK comes from the name of an inspector in a VW plant, Otto K???, who wrote his initials on each car that passed inspection. Of course, I don't have any definitive references either. -- Peter Fales UUCP: ...ihnp4!iwlc7!psfales ...ihnp4!ihuxq!psfales Work: Bell Labs IW-1Z243 W: (312) 979-7784 H: (312) 393-6983 [ Send lawyers, guns, and money; Dad, get me out of this. ]