General
starry
What does starry mean?
Applied to people and things alike, often with the gang's contempt for the old order.
"These starry lewdies do not understand us, Alex sneers."
Origin
Coined by Burgess in A Clockwork Orange (1962) from the Russian 'stary', 'old'. It frames the generational conflict between teenage 'nadsat' culture and the 'starry' adult establishment.
Frequently asked questions
What does starry mean in Nadsat?
It means old or ancient, from the Russian 'stary'. It has nothing to do with stars.
Where did starry come from?
Anthony Burgess coined it for A Clockwork Orange in 1962 from the Russian word for old.
How does starry relate to the theme of the book?
It marks the adult, 'old' world against which Alex's teenage 'nadsat' culture defines itself.
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