word choice - Which is correct, "buck naked" or "butt naked"?


"Butt naked" or "buck naked" both refer to completely naked, or do they? Where the phrase comes from I have no idea but that would be of interest.


This is a phrase I am too afraid to google and wouldn't know if I came upon an authoritative source.



Answer



They're both "correct", and they both mean "totally naked" (although "butt naked" can mean "bare buttocks").


The etymology of "Buck naked" is apparently lost to time, I'm afraid. To add to the list of suggestions already made: From the phrase "as naked as a buck deer" (which apparently is similar to the phrase "naked as a jay-bird").


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