Interesting Origins
As incredible as it sounds, men and women took baths
only twice a year (May and October)! Women kept their
hair covered, while men shaved their heads (because of
lice and bugs) and wore wigs. Wealthy men could afford
good wigs made from wool. They couldn't wash the wigs,
so to clean them they would carve out a loaf of bread,
put the wig in the shell, and bake it for 30 minutes.
The heat would make the wig big and fluffy, hence the
term "big wig." Today we often use the term "here
comes the Big Wig" because someone appears to be or is
powerful and wealthy.
* * * * * * * * * *
Common entertainment included playing cards. However,
there was a tax levied when purchasing playing cards
but only applicable to the "Ace of Spades." To avoid
paying the tax, people would purchase 51 cards
instead.Yet, since most games require 52 cards, these
people were thought to be stupid or dumb because they
weren't "playing with a full deck."
* * * * * * * * * *
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. However, 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.
However, if this plate were 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
cannonballs would come right off the monkey. Thus, it
was quite literally, "Cold enough to freeze the balls
off a brass monkey." (All this time, you thought that
was an improper expression, didn't you?)
As incredible as it sounds, men and women took baths
only twice a year (May and October)! Women kept their
hair covered, while men shaved their heads (because of
lice and bugs) and wore wigs. Wealthy men could afford
good wigs made from wool. They couldn't wash the wigs,
so to clean them they would carve out a loaf of bread,
put the wig in the shell, and bake it for 30 minutes.
The heat would make the wig big and fluffy, hence the
term "big wig." Today we often use the term "here
comes the Big Wig" because someone appears to be or is
powerful and wealthy.
* * * * * * * * * *
Common entertainment included playing cards. However,
there was a tax levied when purchasing playing cards
but only applicable to the "Ace of Spades." To avoid
paying the tax, people would purchase 51 cards
instead.Yet, since most games require 52 cards, these
people were thought to be stupid or dumb because they
weren't "playing with a full deck."
* * * * * * * * * *
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. However, 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.
However, if this plate were 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
cannonballs would come right off the monkey. Thus, it
was quite literally, "Cold enough to freeze the balls
off a brass monkey." (All this time, you thought that
was an improper expression, didn't you?)
