2006-06-30 10:13:57 · 8 answers · asked by Michael S 2 in Social Science ➔ Other - Social Science
whole nine yards of ammunition .....like in those old machine guns - I'm sure someone else will know the proper name for them - with the long rounds of ammo that you feed into the gun..... hit them with the whole 9 yards!
2006-06-30 10:15:39 · answer #1 · answered by Zippy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Automatic weapons ammunition for some weapons is a "belt" or "chain" of bullets. You have probably seen them on WWII movies.
Some (I think including 50-caliber airplane mounted machine guns), came in belts 9 yards long.
If you shot a long burst at a target and used up the entire belt, you had given that target "the whole nine yards". Ouch.
2006-06-30 10:18:59 · answer #2 · answered by enginerd 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It used to be that a bolt of cloth would be 9 yards long. When someone was making clothing, if they were making high quality clothes, they would use "the whole 9 yards."
2006-06-30 10:19:17 · answer #3 · answered by Tim 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
zippy's got it. during WWII 50 caliber machine guns were belt feed. the belt happened to be 9 yards (27ft) long.
2006-06-30 10:20:23 · answer #4 · answered by ron and rasta 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An excellent discussion of this by the world's most intelligent human being is here: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_252.html
2006-06-30 10:34:33 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are many theories about the origin of the term. Find all of them at : http://www.yaelf.com/nineyards.shtml
You can decide which one is more plausible. Good Luck !
2006-06-30 10:19:06 · answer #6 · answered by SpongebobRoundpants 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because ten is a first down
2006-06-30 10:14:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nobody really knows for sure.
2006-06-30 10:19:38 · answer #8 · answered by My Avatar 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋