Whole Nine Yards (1855)

[Michael Quinion]

Stephen Goranson queried Barry Popik's discovery:

> If it existed in 1855, so be it. But. What does the collocation mean
> there? Could you Barry or someone please provide the context (of the
> first quote; the second one seems irrelevant) for those of us not
> registered at that archive? Thanks. Stephen Goranson

It's an accidental collocation:

What a silly, stupid woman! I told her to get just enough to make
three shirts; instead of making three she has put the whole nine
yards into one shirt!

But I suppose one might create a new etymythology on the basis that
nine yards of fabric makes three shirts!

--
Michael Quinion
Editor, World Wide Words
E-mail: <wordseditor at worldwidewords.org>
Web: <http://www.worldwidewords.org/>