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In Reply to: But, um, this guy ain't! posted by ElbowGeek on April 17, 2007 at 04:59:02:
...enjoy (or don't, if that is your inclination):Betcha didn't know this!
In the heyday of sailing ships, all war ships and many freighters carried iron cannons. Those cannons fired round iron cannon balls. It was necessary to keep a good supply near the cannon, but how to prevent them from rolling about the deck? The best storage method devised was a square based pyramid with one ball on top, resting on four resting on nine which rested on sixteen. Thus, a supply of 30 cannon balls could be stacked in a small area right next to the cannon.
There was only one problem...how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding or rolling from under the others.
The solution was a metal plate called a "Monkey" with 16 round indentations. But,if this plate was made of iron, the iron balls would quickly rust to it.
The solution to the rusting problem was to make "Brass Monkeys." Few landlubbers realize that brass contracts much more and much faster than iron when chilled.
Consequently, when the temperature dropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the iron cannon balls would come right off the monkey.
Thus, it was quite literally, "Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey". (And all this time, you thought that was an improper _expression, didn't you?)
Dave
Later Gator,
Crank up your talking machine, grab a jar of your favorite "kick-back", sit down, relax, and let the good times roll.
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Follow Ups
- That is a great site; this is from there,... - J. S. Bach 05:13:34 04/17/07 (9)
- O.K., then. Where's the expression "Colder than a witches' - Muzikmike 10:09:22 04/17/07 (1)
- Same place - kavakidd 10:55:57 04/17/07 (0)
- Bah! Screw that! What I wanna know is.... - subcoolman 05:30:51 04/17/07 (2)
- "That way-cool video below your signature" No, it is from inmate Ivan303... - J. S. Bach 13:09:04 04/17/07 (0)
- Dead center. That should have done it. nt - free.ranger 10:30:27 04/17/07 (0)
- I'd actually heard that before, and I believe it passes the Snopes test! - ElbowGeek 05:17:59 04/17/07 (3)
- I met a lot of brass when I lived in San Diego. - Muzikmike 10:11:32 04/17/07 (2)
- Uh-oh, now you've done it. Beware, the lyrics within are rather salty... - ElbowGeek 10:52:01 04/17/07 (1)
- Absolutely lovely! - Muzikmike 11:11:03 04/17/07 (0)