Perhaps and very perhaps the "balls" were the adjusting spheres set at
the compass binnacle to offset various "influences" from the rigging
and armament. The "brass" what they were made of (non ferrous) or a
metaphor for the guy looking at it who'd tell you he'd started out as
a youth as a "powder monkey" the juveniles, assumed orphans, who
assisted the firing of naval weapons in some navies (Union navy during
the American Civil War had some). Then again it might be referring to
an anatomical reaction of male humans "cremasteric reflex" (Canadian
wordsmith Bill Casselman discusses at
http://www.billcasselman.com/canadian_sayings_three/csthree_five_fear_saying.htm)

On 10/1/07, Ron May <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Ok, I have a question that begins with the nautical phrase "its cold enough
> to freeze the balls off a brass monkey" (calm down everyone, we are talking
> cannon balls). Were cannon balls really brass or were they bronze...and what
> the  heck was the monkey made of?
>
> Ron May
> Legacy 106, Inc.
>
>
>
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