* Informal British English: It's primarily used in British English and is considered informal.
* No clear origin: There is no definitive source or historical link to a specific word or language. It's likely a slang term that evolved organically.
* Possible influences: Some theories suggest:
* "Yank": It might be a variation of "yank" (meaning to pull with force), suggesting a "long pull" of time.
* "Yonder": It could have connections to "yonder" (meaning "over there"), implying a distant period in the past.
* "Eons": It might be a colloquial shortening or corruption of "eons" (meaning a very long period of time).
* First usage: The first recorded use of "yonks" dates back to the early 20th century.
In summary: While the exact origin of "yonks" remains unclear, it's a colorful and enduring word that adds a touch of British slang to expressions of time.