starkers, a. slang.
(ˈstɑːkəz)
[f. stark adv.: cf. -er6.]
1. = stark naked a.
| 1923 J. Manchon Le Slang 292 Starko,..= stark naked = starkers, tout nu. 1952 M. Allingham Tiger in Smoke vi. 105 We was all starkers and painted black. 1963 Guardian 20 Apr. 12/6 There was no stripping... The girls were starkers all the time. 1972 ‘D. Devine’ Three Green Bottles 12, I dare you to go in starkers. 1981 Times Lit. Suppl. 11 Sept. 1046/3 There is also Rosemary Martin as the Art School model in David Storey's Life Class, and Cathy Kessler, similarly starkers in Lay-By. |
2. Stark raving mad. Cf. stark adv. 2 b
| 1962 E. Grierson Massingham Affair v. i. 245 She's..a bit starkers, poor soul, and driving Matron..up the wall. 1972 L. P. Davies What did I do Tomorrow? iii. 38 You belted out of that room... They thought you were starkers. |