Though it originated as a ligature of the letters Omega (Ѡ ѡ) and Te (Т т), it functions as a discrete letter of the alphabet, placed between х and ц.

[1] This can be seen in the first printed Cyrillic abecedarium (illustrated), and continues in modern usage.

[2] Ot is used in Church Slavonic to represent the preposition отъ 'from' and prefix отъ-.

It is used with a similar purpose in mediaeval manuscripts of other Slavonic languages written with the Cyrillic alphabet.

In printed books ѿ is often used in preference to (ѡ҃) for the numeral 800.