<Li> A corruption from the speech of the large number of descendants of Scottish and Ulster Scots (Scots - Irish) immigrants to North America, of the common Scots phrase och aye ("oh yes"). </Li> <Li> A borrowing of the Greek phrase όλα καλά (óla kalá), meaning "all good". </Li> <P> Allen Walker Read identifies the earliest known use of O.K. in print as 1839, in the edition of 23 March of the Boston Morning Post (an American newspaper). The announcement of a trip by the Anti-Bell - Ringing Society (a "frolicsome group" according to Read) received attention from the Boston papers . Charles Gordon Greene wrote about the event using the line that is widely regarded as the first instance of this strain of OK, complete with gloss: </P> <P> The above is from the Providence Journal, the editor of which is a little too quick on the trigger, on this occasion . We said not a word about our deputation passing "through the city" of Providence.--We said our brethren were going to New York in the Richmond, and they did go, as per Post of Thursday . The "Chairman of the Committee on Charity Lecture Bells," is one of the deputation, and perhaps if he should return to Boston, via Providence, he of the Journal, and his train - band, would have his "contribution box," et ceteras, o.k.--all correct--and cause the corks to fly, like sparks, upward . </P>

When was ok first used in the uk