What does mean or why we write the letter "o'" with clock? Is there any letter instead of the apostrophe?
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11The original expression is of the clock, progressively contracted to o' th' and finally to o'. – StoneyB on hiatus Nov 18 '15 at 22:04
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4@StoneyB: Preettttty sure that should be an answer, no? – Nathan Tuggy Nov 18 '15 at 23:31
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O'clock is a historical contraction of of the clock.
This o' contraction for of also shows up in:
jack-o'-lantern, will-o'-wisp/will-o'-the-wisp, cat o' nine tails, ...
This isn't a very productive contraction though.
Nihilist_Frost
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