I searched out the meaning of the contraction several months ago, but this was a bit more informative. The solar time versus the time on the clock are indeed going to vary depending on the season. Thought a few goats might appreciate this tidbit. An oft-used contraction and I've gone the vast majority of my life without knowing what it's short for.
When English people started using o’clock, Im not sure they were even using clocks. They were telling time by the church bells which were rung at certain times either on the basis of a clock or sundial. But the word clog/clok is celtic for bell. I believe the word got in to french or german usage via the gauls, who spoke something like welsh up until the 400s, and then it became synonymous with the timepiece centuries later.
I assume the o’ is there because they were trying to use some sort of genetive construction for clock. Some languages, including celtic ones, say something like “5 of bells” or “5 of children” instead of just 5 bells/children. Maybe old english did that too.
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I assume the o’ is there because they were trying to use some sort of genetive construction for clock. Some languages, including celtic ones, say something like “5 of bells” or “5 of children” instead of just 5 bells/children. Maybe old english did that too.
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