starkoadj.
/ˈstɑːkəʊ/, U.S. /ˈstɑrkoʊ/ colloquial.
= stark naked adj. and n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > wearing clothing > nakedness or state of being unclothed > [adjective]
nakedOE
bareOE
start nakedc1225
nakec1300
unarrayedc1380
clothelessc1386
mother-nakedc1390
stark nakedc1390
bareda1400
naked as a needlec1400
unattiredc1400
uncladc1400
uncoveredc1400
loose1423
unclothedc1440
belly-nakeda1500
naked as one's nail1563
unabuilyeit1568
sindonlessc1595
leathern1596
disarrayed1611
undressed1613
debaredc1620
unapparelled1622
unaccoutred?1750
stark1762
disrobed1794
ungarmented1798
undraped1814
au naturel1828
nude1830
skyclad1832
garbless1838
kitless1846
spar-naked1849
raimentless1852
undoffed1854
togless1857
garmentless1866
naked as a robin1866
clothesless1868
sky clothed1878
nakedized1885
altogether1896
buck naked1913
raw1916
bollock naked1922
starkers1923
starko1923
stitchless1927
naked as a jaybird1931
bollock1950
rollock naked1962
nekkid1977
kit-off1992
1923 J. Manchon Le Slang 292 Starko,..= stark naked = starkers, tout nu.
1935 ‘L. Luard’ Conquering Seas iii. 40 They'll be stripping us starko next.
1946 B. Marshall George Brown's Schooldays iv. 16 Doing a bundle means getting dressed from starko in five minutes.
1961 J. Pudney Thin Air xv. 197 Leave him in his birthday suit. Miss bloody Garth can walk back to Midsomer starko and explain to the folks that she's been a man all the time.
1979 ‘C. Brand’ Rose in Darkness iv. 25 She opened the door, practically starko, and couldn't think what the lady was so surprised about.
2004 L. Auchincloss East Side Story vii. 110 She shouldn't have been so prim about other girls seeing her starko.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1923