"the whole nine yards"

[Kim & Rima McKinzey]

>...
>"the whole nine yards" came from the amount of tartan material required
>for a big man's great kilt. (The great kilt is worn wrapped around the
shoulders as well as the waist, and so is longer.)

This, too, isn't accurate.  The great plaid, even for a HUGE man, is
nowhere close to nine yards, even if measured in square yards, which
is not the usual method.  Plus, as Jesse's article implied, it would
be quite unlikely for a term concerning ancient Scottish kilts to
enter modern speech with no record prior to the mid 60s.

Rima