The abbreviation OK is universal and there is almost no person in the world who would not understand it. However, there are several theories as to the true meaning of this word
Okay, O.K. or OK, is a word derived from Anglo-American English. Its conveyed meaning is that everything is fine. The term is considered one of the most popular in the world, and is used in many languages, including Serbian.
The origin of you, you could say - the international abbreviation, which "covers" the expression "OK", is more than interesting. In linguistic discussions and etymological dictionaries, several different explanations are given as to how it came into being. There are as many as a dozen theories about the origin of that abbreviation. They all agree on only one thing: it originated in the United States.
The gesture of the word OK with the fingers is expressed by the thumb and forefinger forming a circle. However, the sign is interpreted differently in different regions of the world. In South America, this gesture can be offensive or vulgar.
There are many theories and these are some of them.
The first of them refers to the old Indian expression okeh, meaning: "that's right", "that's right". It was then transferred to the American English pronunciation as oukey ("ou-kei"), so the abbreviation OK was made, with the same meaning as the Indians.
The second explanation is related to the name of an earlier railway officer, Obadiah Kelly, who allegedly confirmed the orderly receipt of postal items, more precisely - packages, with the initials of his name and surname - OK. Later, it got a general meaning: "it's okay".
Some other theories are related to stories that bakers stamped their initials on biscuits, or to shipbuilders who marked which tree was for the outer keel, and to soldiers in the Civil War when they wore an inscription that said zero dead. (zero killed).
The first known written use of the word OK occurred in the "Boston morning post" on March 23, 1839, in the sentence: "He ... would have the" contribution box ", et ceteras, ok - all correct - and cause the corks to fly, like sparks, upward. "
Although the origin of one of the most famous abbreviations in the world has not been precisely determined, everyone knows its meaning well. It is very widespread and is often used all over the planet.
I had a notebook where I wrote down abbreviations, a nice article.