#WordNerdWednesday
Big Ben is one of the most famous clocks in the world. Except it’s not technically a clock.
It’s the 16-ton bell that rings when the Clock of Westminster hits the top of each hour.
I understand why people are confused, though.
The English word “clock” derives from the French word “cloche,” which means bell.
Historically, the connection makes sense.
The French “cloche” traces back to the Medieval Latin “clocca”, possibly even Celtic (Old Irish “clocc”).
In those days, timekeeping was done with silent devices like sundials and hourglasses.
Whoever was near such devices had to ring a bell to let others know a specific time had come.
The most common use of bells was a call to prayer. Bell ringing = time to go to church.
Gradually, bells were used to signal other events like weddings (hence the term “wedding bells”), funerals, public meetings, and even the start and end of the workday.
Given our modern obsession with time, it’s hard to imagine life without watches or clocks, but it’s something I’d love to experience.
