The Whole Nine Yards - Solved?

[Douglas G. Wilson]

On 10/14/2011 10:29 PM, Baker, John wrote:
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> Sender:       American Dialect Society<ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       "Baker, John"<JBAKER at STRADLEY.COM>
> Subject:      The Whole Nine Yards - Solved?
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>      A Wikipedia editor has found a remarkable use of "the whole nine yards,=
> " from a period much earlier than anyone had thought to look.  I have reque=
> sted permission to share his or her identity.  The evidence itself, however=
> , is in the public domain.
--

This 1855 story (or an indistinguishable one) was discussed on this list
in 2007 and also (IIRC) earlier, in 2005 or so.

I believe that it is irrelevant to the popular etymology issue.

-- Doug Wilson

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