O'clock SHARP!

Posted by Greykell Dutton on October 10, 2003

In Reply to: O'clock SHARP! posted by ESC on October 10, 2003

Hmmm, this works for me! Thanks a lot, I'll pass it on to my son.

Greykell

: : My 12 year old was asking me today why we say to be somewhere at something o'clock sharp.

(reply truncated
: Sharp - adjective. Probably before 1200 "scharp"; developed from Old English (before 830) "scearp" cutting, keen, sharp.The use of "sharp" as an adjective to mean "promptly, exactly" was first recorded in 1840, ...: It doesn't have anymore information about the evolution of the term. But it would seem to be an easy jump from meaning (c & d, from Merriam-Webster online) clear and distinct to "promptly, exactly."