Manure

[Basil]

Many different words and phrases came from those sailing days and a lot of people who don't know the true meaning will take offense at them. The balls on a brass monkey is one. A brass monkey is a device made out of brass for storing cannon balls on deck, usually in a pyramid shape. There are many more, but we'll leave them for another time.:highly_amused: PJ

And many people don't realize that a lot of these fun anecdotes are just made up: https://www.snopes.com/language/stories/brass.asp

And regarding the fun fact about stuff in transit: https://tinyurl.com/2ujtd

 

[Boink]

Was about to write that we need to get Snopes in here. Thanks Bas.

 

[PC]

The one I always think of is;

"Balls to The Wall"

(ball-shaped speed governor weights at their max extension.....usually on steam engine governors)

That's "balls out."

As I understand it, "balls to the wall" is an aviation term for full throttle, pushing throttle levers (which commonly have balls on the their ends) up against the firewall.