English
in the buff
In the buff comes from English buff ‘bare skin’.
- English1500–presentbuff‘bare skin’literally ‘brownish yellow’
- Englishearliest quotation 2021in the buff
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- English1500–presentbuff‘bare skin’literally ‘brownish yellow’
- Englishearliest quotation 2021in the buff
Earliest quotation: 2021, Ian Lecklitzner, The Inevitable Rise of the Work-From-Home Nudist: “Not to mention, nudity can be just plain convenient.…”
The story
From buff (“bare skin”, literally “brownish yellow”), an allusion to the color of tanned light skin.
Linked words
through English buff ‘bare skin’
Today it means
prep_phrase Nude.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / English buff / in the buff