I've actually heard it came from the shipping insurance industry referring to the number of yard arms a sailing ship had. I vaguely remember that nine yards was the maximum of any ship hence the most that could be insured. Gary Vigen > ---------- > From: Gregory Peterson[SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Reply To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: 23 janvier 2001 09:30 > To: U.S. Metric Association > Subject: [USMA:10605] the whole eight metres > > My wife heard a comment on the origin of the saying "the whole nine > yards." > > Apparently it is the amount of fabric needed to make a complete formal > Scottish kilt, sporran, and plaid and not a reference to American/Canadian > football as I had always suspected. > > Thus the "proper" SI translation would be "the whole eight metres". > > Can anyone back up the origin of this saying? > > greg >
