A particular phrase was brought to my attention yesterday during the course of a conversation about an individual who was taken into custody sans clothing. That's right he was naked. However, was he butt naked or buck naked?

Have you noticed that there seems to be something about words that suggest the lack of clothing. You've probably done a double-take or two at a billboard that offered "Nude" furniture. Or, maybe you've been tempted to purchase a health drink that uses words like naked in its title.

Pawel Szamanski via Unsplash.com
Pawel Szamanski via Unsplash.com
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So, while nudity is one of the most talked-about things that we don't talk about in polite or mixed company it certainly gets a lot of attention. Did you know Louisiana has a nude resort? It's even got Trip Advisor reviews. Go figure. I trust nobody whined about the dress code.

But enough about that, let's get back to the discussion at hand. Is it Buck Naked or Butt Naked? It turns out he was both but like the chicken and the egg conundrum which one of those phrases that both mean "completely without clothing" came first?

Annie Spratt via Unsplash.com
Annie Spratt via Unsplash.com
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It was actually buck naked. Historians seem to believe that the term came about as a reference to buckskin, the leather early Americans made from the hides of animals such as deer. The light brown/tan color certainly could be misconstrued as uncovered flesh from a distance or in a fleeting glance.

Randy Fath via Unsplash.com
Randy Fath via Unsplash.com
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Butt naked probably was noted to make its first appearances in our modern lingo during the 60s and 70s. While there were a few flower children who still donned buckskin at the time most people modified the term because when most people got nude you could see their bare buttocks.

Daniel Nyman via Unsplash.com
Daniel Nyman via Unsplash.com
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So, what do linguists suggest as the most proper and best term to use when describing an individual who is dressed au naturel? Whichever one brings you the most joy. Seriously, you can't and won't be wrong using either term unless you make a poor choice of where you use the term. Then you could have some real explaining to do.

Oh and since this state of undress usually leads to other activities, we thought we'd help you be prepared for what might come next. Otherwise, keep your clothes on and don't forget your sunscreen.

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