Saw this on Japanese TV this morning, so maybe it’s actually tomorrow.
It commemorates the day when the term “OK” first appeared in print, in a newspaper in Boston, 182 years ago, as an abbreviation for “Oll Korrect.”
I guess this etymology is now mainstream, if it’s showing up on Japanese TV as a thing.
history.com/this-day-in-history/ok-enters-national-vernacular
So 2 days ago and the rest checks out.
I never really thought about, but I wouldn’t have guessed it was that old.
Huh, the origin I heard growing up was that it was from Ol’ Kinderhook. It seems there is some belief in that origin still.
Read the other article and it sounds like that was just one of many misconceptions.
Yeah, “Ol[d] Kinderhook” wasn’t the origin, but it did help “OK” to gain popularity.
Small aside-I once asked my grandfather if Japan was a day ahead of us or a day behind, and he replied “That depends on whether turn east or turn west to go there.”
So he did, but he didn’t tell us the exact date of which to celebrate the anniversary. Now we know.