The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #11381   Message #1539173
Posted By: GUEST, Hamish
10-Aug-05 - 04:50 AM
Thread Name: Misspoken, misheard, but accepted.
Subject: RE: Misspoken, misheard, but accepted.
"The whole nine yards"? Meaning genuine. A kilt is made out of nine yards of cloth - all those pleats. Kilt-like skirts may be made out of less cloth.

As far as I am aware, that's where the expression comes from.