Buck Naked

Posted by Fuzz Martin on April 23, 2004

In Reply to: Buck Naked posted by ESC on April 23, 2004

: : So I'm in a little debate with a colleague of mine. He thinks the saying is "Butt Naked", and I think it's "Buck Naked". However, neither of us knows the origin or meaning other than being completely unclothed. Can anyone shed some light on this one?

: I've heard both. I am guessing that "buck" came first. To access previous discussions, search the archives under "naked."

: BUCK NAKED - adjective. Also buck-ass naked, buck-born ~, stark buck ~. Origin uncertain, but perhaps alteration of butt/buttocks. Entirely unclothed.
: : : : From "Dictionary of American Regional English," Volume 1 by Frederic G. Cassidy (1985, Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass., and London, England).

It means naked as a buck is in the wild - in other words, naked as a male deer.

• And speaking of butt-naked ESC 23/April/04