Whole nine yards

[James Smith]

--- Bapopik at AOL.COM wrote:
....

> READER'S DIGEST
>
>     I've been going through the READER'S DIGEST
> searching for Americanisms.
> In particular, I'm looking for the ever-troublesome
> "make a federal case out
> of it" and "the whole nine yards."
....

Are you sure "the whole nine yards" is an Americanism?
I recall reading in the distant past that it referred
to the length of material needed to make a full, or
"great", kilt.  I've read other explantions that nine
yards is the length of cloth needed to make a fine
suit.

JIM
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