Stark naked

Stark naked means to be stripped down with absolutely no clothing and dates from the 16th century. According to the OED, this expression does not derive from the etymological same root as stark meaning absolute, unmitigated or harsh as in a stark landscape. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the OED informs us, the expression was originally ‘start’ naked where start is an Old English word, now obsolete, for tail. Thus, start naked meant ‘naked to the tail’. By the 16th century, however, it evolved into stark naked because of the similarity in meaning with stark meaning absolute or unmitigated. Shakespeare uses the phrase stark naked several times, most notably in Antony and Cleopatra Act V, Scene II, when Cleopatra says, “Rather on Nilus’ mud lay me stark naked, and let the water-flies blow me into abhorring!” Stark bollock naked is a rather more vulgar 20th century variation of stark naked.