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Pastimes : Laughter is the Best Medicine - Tell us a joke
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To: Barney who wrote (17574)1/6/2001 2:27:12 PM
From: PMS Witch  Read Replies (1) of 62549
 
Interesting explanation. What puzzles me is how the differing expansion (contraction) rates of iron and brass would be sufficient to force the balls from the plate. My guess is that the indentations would need to be quite deep to offset the considerable rocking a vessel at sea would experience: a depth approaching the radius of the balls would seem reasonable. Obviously, this would not be the case because of the prohibitively wasteful use of relatively expensive brass. I could understand wood being the preferred material: Light, cheap, easily shaped, and non rusting.

However, if the origin of the phrase is not as you've posted, then what is it? I certainly don't know! Until I see a better explanation, I'll accept yours.

Would the brass part be a simple plate to protect the deck from the balls, with the indentations caused by bearing the ball's weight over time? Perhaps some 'extra' means, such as an enclosure, were employed in keeping the balls stationary. This would reconcile your explanation with what seems to me to be common sense.

Cheers, PW.

P.S. One only needs take a short sea voyage and experience moderate swells to have an appreciation of the rocking of those early sailing ships.
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