Where did the phrase "Three sheets to the wind" come from?

[PICK3]

as in he was so fucked up ... he was three sheets to the wind

 

[GoldenDelicious]

edit: after googling, it seems a sheet is not a sail after all

sheeeeeet, neegro

 

[H_T_]

Dong, Where is my au-to-mo-bile?

 

[Sassy69]

http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-thr1.htm

 

[H_T_]

http://img32.exs.cx/img32/2671/walkonwaterlol8qg.jpg

 

[juiceddreadlocks]

humantarget= teh suck

 

[StickFigure]

http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-thr1.htm

very cool website Sassy!

 

[blut wump]

It's a nautical term.

 

[StickFigure]

It's a nautical term.

Cool sig! But where's the rest of his fuckin' reindeer??

 

[blut wump]

They're digesting.

 

[StickFigure]

They're digesting.

LMAO!! Good answer!

 

[WODIN]

A sheet is a rope that secures the sails on a boat. If all three sails are lose from the sheet then the boat is out of control hence the phrase.

 

[redguru]

First literary reference? Charles Dickens in Dombey and Son.

In sailing, the rudder is used only for basic steerageway. Most Man-of-wars were three masted vessels. The lines attached to the sails that controlled the angle of the sail relative to the wind were called "sheets". If those sheets come loose on a mainsail, then that sail will whip around erratically and be subject to the whims of the wind. Three sheets to the wind and the ship would be impossible to maneuver. Wodin and BlutWump had it right.

 

[PICK3]

First literary reference? Charles Dickens in Dombey and Son.

In sailing, the rudder is used only for basic steerageway. Most Man-of-wars were three masted vessels. The lines attached to the sails that controlled the angle of the sail relative to the wind were called "sheets". If those sheets come loose on a mainsail, then that sail will whip around erratically and be subject to the whims of the wind. Three sheets to the wind and the ship would be impossible to maneuver. Wodin and BlutWump had it right.

Thanks I've learned something today.

A mind is a terrible thing to waste.