Monkeys genitalia

[cameronke]

I had heard the expression "freezing the balls of a brass monkey" came from a navy term where the brass monkey was a triangle of brass upon which canon balls were stacked. The problem being that in cold weather the triangle would contract and the balls fall off.

Does anyone know if this is the true root of this expression?

Regards to all

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[tome]

Yes, I believe you are correct. A 'monkey' was a carrier (eg powder monkey was the lad who carried powder up from the ships magazine), I think.

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[jimi]

One of the very first manufacturers of bras in the UK was based in Bolsover in the mid 19th Century. The very first bras were made of twisted cotten reinforced with bullrushes. Unfortunately the bullrushes in very cold weather became brittle and broke easily causing the bra to lose its shape.
Hence the expression Freezing the Bolsover Bras manky .. hope that helps

<hr width=100% size=1>.. whit way roon should it be again ..

 

[l'escargot]

The cannon ball story doesn't hold up

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.nmm.ac.uk/site/request/setTemplate:singlecontent/contentTypeA/conFaq/contentId/87/navId/005002006001002>National Maritime Museum</A> &
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.snopes.com/language/stories/brass.htm>Snopes</A>

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[ParaHandy]

Brassiers ..

.. to you too ... the brazier was what kept the brass monkey's balls warm ... there again, it might have been the brass balls of the monkey .. oh dear, wot was the question

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[steve_cronin]

Hear....

...No Evil

Speak No Evil

See No Evil

were the names of the three brass monkeys on my old grannies mantlepiece and I always took the expression to be to do with the cold making the genetalial appendages of said primates so brittle that they were liable to break off.

But then I ran into the gunner's brass monkey idea a few years back when amongst a bunch of old salts and not wishing to appear to be a nautical ignoramous, I went along with it.

Now you lot have shattered a lad's illusion and you are NOT forgiven!

Steve Cronin

<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion

 

[peterb]

Therometer

I once had an ornamental brass monkey with arms operated by a bimetal strip. The arms moved over a scale to make a thermometer. At freezing point the hands had moved to a protective position!

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[Mizzenrabble]

You're a very funny man. I'd buy you a pint. No sex mind. just beer.

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[kds]

Jimi,
That has got to be the best I have heard for years.
And I understood it !

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[steve_cronin]

Re: Bolsover

I went to a Mansfield Rouind Table Ladies Night a few years ago.

One raffle prize was fish and chips once a week for a year from a Bolsover fish & chip shop. Nobody claimed the prize!

Steve Cronin



<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion

 

[pugwash]

Nuts

In Canada they don't waste time with long words like monkeys or genitalia. It's cold enough, they say, to freeze the nuts off a bridge.

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[steve_cronin]

Ahhh then....

... this could be about studs through plates contracting and snapping the nuts of their ends?

Steve Cronin

<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion

 

[pugwash]

Re: Ahhh then....

Never heard it put like that but you could be right. According to an RCN friend, it started as "cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey," evolved into "cold enough to freeze a monkey's balls" which in turn became "monkey's nuts" and finally "nuts off a bridge."

But you know those Canadians, they don't give a brass monkey's... ;-)

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[steve_cronin]

No, I don\'t no too many Canadians.....

But I once knew a "Monty the Mounty" though!

Now HE had balls!

Steve Cronin

<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion

 

[penfold]

That was the explanation given to me by one of the guides on HMS Victory, but as to the veracity of it I don't know. certainly the cannon balls were actually stacked on a triangular brass thing on the deck.

cheers,
david

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=green>Oh my god,.....Somebody call for a veterinarian!</font color=green>