Fwd: Scotsman.com Heritage & Culture: Origin of "the whole nine yards"

[bapopik at AOL.COM]

-----Original Message-----
From: heritage heritage <heritage at scotsman.com>
To: Bapopik at aol.com
Sent: Thu, 09 Jun 2005 17:17:26 +0100
Subject: Scotsman.com Heritage & Culture: Origin of "the whole nine yards"


Good question ... and one that has bugged this writer for years as well.

I am an American who has lived in Scotland for the last few years. While in the States, the saying "the whole nine yards" was quite common. When a Scotsman visiting me many years ago asked for the genesis of the phrase, I could not tell him.

So started a journey into "the whole nine yards" - not just by me but by a few others.

Surprisingly, we came up with many of the same explanations that you have. But, like you, we have never arrived with the clear answer.

Queries to a few experts here in Scotland also came up blank, so I am afraid we cannot help you in your quest.

Best of luck!

Regards.


Heritage
scotsman.com
108 Holyrood Road
Edinburgh  EH8 8AS
+44 (0) 131 620 8367

heritage at scotsman.com

>>> <Bapopik at aol.com> 05/15/05 01:30am >>>
Just yesterday, I found a Scottish origin of "the whole nine yards," the great American etymological mystery. I posted information to the American Dialect Society list and to my website. Can The Scotsman and its readers help?
http://www.barrypopik.com/article/879/summary-capt-richard-strattons-1955-attestation
http://www.barrypopik.com/article/880/the-scotsmans-kilt

Barry Popik



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