Obs. Forms: 7 cuerpo, quirpo, 7–8 querpo. [Sp. cuerpo body:—L. corpus.]
1. Only in phrase In cuerpo: without the cloak or upper garment, so as to show the shape of the body; in undress; also fig.; sometimes humorously, without clothing, naked.
a. 1625. Fletcher, Love’s Cure, II. i. Boy: my Cloake and Rapier; it fits not a Gentleman of my ranck to walk the streets in Querpo.
1654. H. L’Estrange, Chas. I. (1655), 72. Out came the Lieutenant with his suit of Gallants, all armed in cuerpo.
1691. Wood, Ath. Oxon., II. 556. He … undervalued his office by going in quirpo like a young Scholar.
1740. Warburton, Div. Legat., V. Wks. V. 217. He … strips Moses of his mission and leaves him to cool, in querpo, under his civil character.
1748. Smollett, Rod. Rand., x. The drummer, who had given his only shirt to be washed, appeared in cuerpo.
2. attrib. and Comb.
1644–7. Cleveland, Char. Lond. Diurn., 3. A zealous Botcher in Morefields … contriving some Quirpo-cut of Church-Government.
1741. Richardson, Pamela, lxxxiv. These smart, well-dressing, querpo-fellows.
