Definition of timekeeping

The term "timekeeping" refers to the measurement and tracking of time. The word has its origins in Old English, where it was spelled "timan" and represented the noun "time" with the Old English suffix "-cian," meaning "keeper" or "controller." The Old English word likely evolved from the related Old Norse word "timari," which meant "clock," and would have been introduced to the English vocabulary during the Viking invasions of the ninth century. This usage is reflected in Middle English, where "time" and "timekeeper" were used interchangeably until the 15th century. The modern English usage of "timekeeping" to describe the use of mechanical or electronic devices, such as watches, clocks, and calendars, to measure and record time became established in the late 18th century. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) records the first known use of the phrase in 1791, in a British publication called the Antijacobin Review and Cobbler's Journal. Over time, the usage of "timekeeping" has expanded to encompass more than just the mechanical or electronic measurement of time. In current usage, "timekeeping" can refer to more abstract concepts, such as managing and coordinating tasks within a specific timescale, or scheduling events and deadlines. However, its earliest roots remain tied to the physical act of measuring and tracking time, as witnessed by the OED's definition: "the practice of measuring and recording time, esp. In the operation of clocks, watches, etc." (OED, "timekeeping," def. 1).