WHAT DOES “O.K.” MEAN ?

Evening Star, Issue 23861, 16 April 1941, Page 3

WHAT DOES “0.K.” MEAN ?

The records indicate that no one is absolutely certain just what the letters “ 0.K.” stand for. Several theories have been offered, however. Webster’s International Dictionary mentions that they are probably from the Choctaw Indian word oke or boke, meaning “ Yes it is.” Then ' Encyclopedia Americana ’ mentions that O.K. has been ascribed, incorrectly, to Andrew Jackson. A humorist of the time declared that Jackson, as President, used O.K. to-endorse official documents as correct under the impression that it was the abbreviation of “ Orl Korroct.” The ‘ Americana ' further states that some claim that O.K. had its origin in the initials of the Indian chief, “ Old Keokuk,” who customarily signed papers with Iris initials. Differing a trifle from Webster, the ‘ Americana ‘ says that the derivation is also attributed to the Choctaw word okeh, meaning “ It is so,” and “ In no other way ” Woodrow Wilson, when President, used “ Okeh ” in signing official documents. Still another possibility is suggested by Stimpson. who states that O.K. may have been derived from Aux Cayes (which is pronounced o-kay), a town in Santo Domingo, for clerks, in billing goods to retailers, fell into the habit of