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ladysprite ([personal profile] ladysprite) wrote2005-01-26 08:12 pm
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Idle Speculation

Does anybody know where, exactly, the phrase 'buck naked' comes from? A buck is not any more or less naked than any other animal; if anything the antlers might actually make them less naked instead of more, depending on how you look at it. And if it's monetarily speaking, a buck is awfully cheap.

While I'm thinking of it, actually, why is a dollar a buck?

Personally, I'd rather be sawbuck naked. Or even C-note naked. I'd like to think I'm at least somewhat more valuable than a Wendy's Junior Cheeseburger....
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[identity profile] asciikitty.livejournal.com 2005-01-27 01:04 am (UTC)(link)
A doller, I've heard, is a "buck" because of fur traders, and trading buckskin.

I don't know why it's "buck naked" though

[identity profile] lensedqso.livejournal.com 2005-01-27 01:05 am (UTC)(link)
I heard somewhere that it's a more acceptable form of the phrase "butt naked" cleaned up a bit for polite company. I don't know if that's true, though.

[identity profile] autographedcat.livejournal.com 2005-01-27 01:38 am (UTC)(link)
Um, if I give you a dollar, will you let me see you naked? ;)

origins

[identity profile] gmkieran.livejournal.com 2005-01-27 02:06 am (UTC)(link)
american heritage dictionary agrees with lensedqso

ADVERB & ADJECTIVE: Chiefly Southern U.S. Bare-naked.
ETYMOLOGY: buck- (perhaps alteration of butt4) + naked.

While the Maven's word of the day site offers a lengthy explanation covering all you asked and more (based on the OED, no less)

http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=20001005

I love google. *g*

[identity profile] filkerdave.livejournal.com 2005-01-27 02:48 am (UTC)(link)
My personal opinion is, if you're naked, I'm perfectly happy to call you whatever you want ;)

[identity profile] tafkad.livejournal.com 2005-01-27 04:48 am (UTC)(link)
"Buck Naked, Texas Ranger" was a character in Hose-a-Rama, if that helps any . . .

No? Didn't think so. . . .

[identity profile] warinbear.livejournal.com 2005-01-27 09:59 am (UTC)(link)
I'd like to think I'm at least somewhat more valuable than a Wendy's Junior Cheeseburger....

Then by all means go ahead and think it. <g>

It's true, after all. (It's even true if you put 'franchise' in place of 'Junior Cheeseburger'.)

Buck Naked

[identity profile] whiffert.livejournal.com 2005-01-27 06:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Is the deepest desire of anyone obsessively infatuated with Gil Gerard.
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