The topic for Thurs. December 11 – Day 27 of our 30 (40) Days of Blogging is
WOOL
Yes, the textile fabric. From sheep (or alpacas, or musk oxen, it matters not)
Used to make blankets
And kilts
And as a euphemism to deceive.
This saying actually goes back to the days when all gentlemen wore powdered wigs like the ones still worn by the judges in British courts. The word wool was then a popular, joking term for hair.
The expression ‘pull the wool over his eyes’ came from the practice of tilting a man’s wig over his eyes, so he couldn’t see what was going on The phrase itself is of 19th century American origin. The earliest example that I can find of it in print is from the Milwaukee Daily Sentinel And Gazette, October 1839:
“And we ask one question that they dare not firmly answer, whether they are not now making a tolerable attempt to pull the wool over the eyes of the people.”
Blog away.
