Origin of "Okay"

Posted by Phlip on April 19, 2001

In Reply to: Origin of "Okay" posted by ESC on March 03, 2000

: : Another theory which I find attractive is that "okay" derives from the Scottish "auch aye", meaning "ah yes".

: O.K. was an abbreviation for Old Kinderhook Club

The problem with all these theories is they must refer to 18th century etymologies. "Okay" became popular at a time when white parents scolded their children for saying things blacks said, such as "ain't".

According to the PBS special about the English language, "okay" derives from the North African "wooky".