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Updated April 26th 1999

Where Do Expressions Come From

Greetings

I always wondered where expressions come from. In this hobby I was able to identify some possibilities but there are many more which I have not been able to discover the origins yet.

Here are some of the origins I have found. If you have other possibilities for these expressions or wish to add some please contact me at mich2inf@lycosmail.com.

Son of a Gun During the 1600-1700 some ladies of less than proper
intentions went to sea and gained there fortunes there.
Some of these ladies ended up with a child for their
crib before they had a husband for their bed. Some
of these children where born on the gun decks of
ships in between the guns. Hence "Son of a Gun"
Lock, Stock and Barrel The three parts of a rifle. The Lock being the part with the
hammer, Stock being the wooden stock and barrel being
the metal tube that rounds are fired out of.
Cold enough to freeze
the balls off a brass
monkey		 I have heard 2 different possiblities for this.
  1. Ships had brass devices made to hold the
    cannon balls in place. This device was
    called a Brass Monkey. When it got cold
    the brass would expand making lettings the
    cannon balls roll around the ship.

  2. The pyramids of Cannon Balls you see in
    forts are called a Brass Monkey. When it
    got cold the brass would expand making
    lettings the cannon balls roll around the
    fort
Rule of thumb There are many possiblities for this expression.
Please let me know what your toughts are.

If you have any other information on the 2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry or any other interesting information please contact me at mich2inf@lycosmail.com

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