I read or heard something about this recently in connection with some etymological deep dive someone was doing. I can’t remember any details, unhelpfully.
You are probably thinking of On the Origin of “Oops!”: The Language and Literature of Animal Disease by Ray Malewitz claiming it came a gradual shortening of the word “ooperzootics” (epizooty, a disease affecting many animals at the same time) to “oops” between 1872 and 1921.
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[ 3.9 ms ] story [ 29.3 ms ] threadBlame Canada! Blame Canada! It isn't a real country anyway.
(Southpark)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOR38552MJA
I've heard it described as a rail-and-horse system, with a rail network connecting hubs, and horse last miles.
https://today.oregonstate.edu/news/origin-word-%E2%80%98oops...