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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!seismo!harpo!eagle!mhuxl!houxm!ihnp4!arizona!budd
From: budd@arizona.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.nlang
Subject: three sheets to the wind
Message-ID: <6267@arizona.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 21-Nov-83 15:47:34 EST
Article-I.D.: arizona.6267
Posted: Mon Nov 21 15:47:34 1983
Date-Received: Wed, 23-Nov-83 03:52:15 EST
Organization: CS Dept, U of Arizona, Tucson
Lines: 5

"Three sheets to the wind" is not a nautical term.  This is a common
misconception.  The term really comes from windmills (this is really true!)
of the old fashioned holland type.  They will stay in balance with two or
four sheets out, but with one or three sheets to the wind they will become
rather unbalanced.  Hence the phrase.