I have also heard that the term refers to the amount of cement that a cement
truck carries in one load....enough to cover the whole nine yards.

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Bowles [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, December 12, 2003 12:06 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: The whole nine yards


Hello all,

The expression we all use and love so well, "The whole nine yards" is also a
relic of WWII.

The British Spitfires and Hurricanes .. used nine yards of ammunition in
each wing emplacement.
If the engagement with the German fighters was brisk .. to the point that
the British planes
were out of ammunition .. on return they'd describe the engagement as having
used .. "The whole
nine yards!"

jb