My honey had a Granny Ethel (God rest her soul).
She left Jeff with this treasure, "If there is enough blue in the sky for a Dutchman's britches, it's going to be a nice day."
What does this mean? Are Dutchman's britches large? or small? I love this saying but struggle with the meaning.
Ode to the internet. I found this bit of information.
Admiral William Henry Smyth's A Sailor's Wordbook from 1867 reads as follows: "Dutchman's breeches, the patch of blue sky often seen when a gale is breaking, is said to be, however small, 'enough to make a pair of breeches for a Dutchman'."
Also this: the Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang says "Dutchman's breeches" is nautical slang meaning 'a patch of blue sky visible through clouds'.
Still doesn't answer my question "Are a Dutchman's britches large or small?"
Joytobe
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