Clerks

/klɜːrks/ noun

Definition

People whose job is to handle paperwork, records, or customer service in an office or store.

Etymology

From Old French 'clerc' and Latin 'clericus,' originally meaning 'clergy member' because literacy was once exclusive to the church. Over time it shifted to mean any educated person doing clerical work.

Kelly Says

Medieval clerks invented many abbreviations we still use today, like '&' (ampersand from 'and per se and') because writing was expensive and parchment was scarce!

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