The Whole Nine Yards

[chasem]

I had heard it as a kilt made from the whole nine yards - which of course many of us know that one as inaccurate.

The one I've heard that has been presented as the most legit, and I've seen as most likely, was a belt of ammunition for a machine gun (I don't recall which exactly) was 9 yards long. To "give someone the whole nine yards" was to unload a whole belt of ammo on them.


Edit: I just went back and read the link you posted. They mention the ammo belt thing. My apologies for not reading it beforehand