start intens Cp OED stark a 5 'sheer, absolute' (1400-), start naked a 'entirely naked' obs exc dial (1225-1325; 1892-96). Comb start (hammer) calm: of the sea, absolutely calm.
1920 WALDO 161 'Start calm' means perfectly calm, and then they may say expressively 'The wind's up and down the mast.' T 195-65 Start calm; not a draft o' wind... I jumped out o' the rodney and went aboard and called father. P 237-76 Boy, 'tis start hammer calm.
