The whole nine yards (1907 - 1916)

[Joel S. Berson]

At 9/8/2013 01:20 PM, Stephen Goranson wrote:
>[[Narrative of the British embassy to China ... 1792-1794 ... .
>Anderson, Aeneas. (London, 1796) [HT] p.4
>In this manner the whole yards of the ship are filled with men up to
>the main-top-gallant royal.]]

I think this should be excluded.  Isn't it simply "yard, n.2", sense
5, "Naut. A wooden (or steel) spar, comparatively long and slender,
slung at its centre from, and forward of, a mast and serving to
support and extend a square sail which is bent to it."?"  Don't all
the movies have scenes where dozens of sailors are perched on the yards?

Joel

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