6.) “The whole nine yards”
Loading up a P-51 Mustang.
This term appeared in the 1950s, after the end of World War II — and it has nothing to do with football or anything else where yardage is a factor. It refers to the length of the ammunition belts designed for American and British fighter planes during the war, 27 feet (or nine yards). When flying a particularly tough mission or otherwise using a lot of ammo, a pilot might have been said to use “the whole nine yards.”
This article originally appeared on We Are The Mighty
READ NEXT
5 Things You MUST Do Before Attending a Job Fair
4 Tips to Find a Career After Retiring From the Military
10 Lessons I Wish I Learned Before My Military Transition
Summary
Article Name
6 Terms You Won’t Believe Have Military Origins
Description
While military slang can be fun, it’s even more fun when it seeps into the common vernacular of everyday people.
Author
Blake Stilwell
Publisher Name
G.I. Jobs
Publisher Logo
