also: とっくのむかし
expression, noun
Dated expression meaning 'a long time ago'; the modern equivalent is とっくの昔. Often used in narrative or nostalgic contexts.
See also: とっくの昔
それはとくの昔に終わった話だ。
That's a story that ended a long time ago.
とくの昔から伝わる祭りが、今も続いている。
A festival handed down from long ago still continues today.
Modern, common variant with the same meaning. とくの昔 is dated and rarely used in contemporary speech.
From とく (an old adverbial form meaning 'quickly' or 'long ago') + の + 昔 (ancient times). The exact derivation of とく is uncertain, but it is related to the classical adverb 疾く.