o’clock
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
"like ONE O’CLOCK," a favourite comparison with the lower orders, implying briskness; otherwise "like winkin’." "To know what’s O’CLOCK" is to be wide-awake, sharp, and experienced.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “o’clock” mean?
"like ONE O’CLOCK," a favourite comparison with the lower orders, implying briskness; otherwise "like winkin’." "To know what’s O’CLOCK" is to be wide-awake, sharp, and experienced.
Is “o’clock” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.