... originally the sails were the "sheets." The term "three sheets to the wind" refers to sails, not to control lines.
Umm, not to contradict such a respected source, but are you sure? As I understand it, the sails used to be called "yards" or "yardage", from whence come the phrases "not until the sun's over the yardarm" and "the whole nine yards". I always understood that "three sheets to the wind" meant one was too drunk even to realize that all (three) sails were sheeted in on the windward (wrong) side. In that sense, "sheet" still refers to the control line, not the sail.
Of course, if I'm wrong, please correct me. I'd like my nautical trivia to be accurate.
Regards,
Eric
