Where did the expression "four sheets to the wind" come from?

Question

Is this a reference to sailing? Laundry? Paper?

Answer 1

Isn't it 3 sheets to the wind? You answer is linked to below - it has to do with sailing and being drunk and forgetting to secure the sails with 'sheets'.

Answer 2

The history behind this phrase to describe a drunk person is simple. As it sounds, "three sheets to the wind" or "four sheets to the wind" is a sailing term thought up by sailors. In a sail boat, there are various kinds of ropes. There is the halyard, which moves, or holds, sails vertically, the line, which holds sails still, and the sheets, which move sails horizontally.
If one sheet was loose (or, to the wind, you might say), the sail would be flapping in the wind and, of course, the boat would be harder to steer. If you have two loose, then the ship becomes extremely difficult to control, and three loose makes control of the ship nearly impossible (I've read that it makes the ship swerve through the waters like a drunken sailor).
It's interesting to note that sailors, at one time, had a complete system for rating the drunkabilityness of their coworkers. One sheet to the wind would mean that the sailor was merely tipsy, while four sheets to the wind meant that the sailor was completely unconscious.

Answer 3

It is an old sailing expression. With 4 (or 3 depending on the vessel) sheets (or sails) fully extended in a strong wind the ship will list (or lean) dramatically to the side. You can see this clearly on a smaller scale in yacht racing. The expression refers to a sailor who is so drunk he cannot stand up straight, hence: looks like he has (or is) 4 sheets to the wind.

Answer 4

it refers to sails on a boat

Answer 5

Kite flying

Answer 6

bed