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The Whole Nine Yards

Editor's note: Before you read the posting below, check this page on 'The origin of the whole nine yards'.


Posted by Q on February 12, 2002

In Reply to: The Whole Nine Yards posted by Harry DeBari on February 12, 2002

: My grandmother, a headmistress of the Bermuda School System who came from Carmathen, Wales told me a different version than I have seen in this forum.

: She stated that the Whole nine yards was based on an attempt by the British to end some elements of the caste system in India. Under British rule, turbans worn by all castes were to be of 9 yards in length, previously, lower castes were to wear shorter length and therefore smaller turbans. Therefore, everyone was to wear the full nine yards.

Kind of mirrors the fabric theory. But without logical sense of why nine yards. (why not 4yds?)
9 yards seems like an awful lot of fabric to sport on one's head. Somethng that tall must have been for the president only. (Was this the inspiration for the 60's Bee Hive hairdo?...Hmmmm.)

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