In a message dated 7/28/2003 1:25:53 PM Eastern Daylight Time, jimgilmer@alaweb.com writes: > That expression "middling" brings up another question. An old southern > expression used when someone asks "How y'all doin?", is the answer "fair to > middlin'". Does anyone know if that term "middling" as it applies to meat > has any connection to the expression stating one's state of health? > > Jim Gilmer > Jim: This term comes from grading cotton. Some cotton has long fibers which makes it expensive. The cotton with the shorter fibers is less expensive. Fiber length is the factor which determines the grade of cotton. A grade of "fair" means short fibers. A grade of middling means medium length. Fair to middling means from short (poor) to medium length (OK). Cotton grows, is picked and sent to market in small bolls or balls. Market removes the seeds, leaf and small trash. Then someone pulls the fibers of a batch in a certain manner between the fingers to determine staple of fiber length. In making yarn the cleaned matted fibers have to be pulled apart mechanically and the fibers laid parallel before the yarn can be spun. This paralleling of fibers is called "carding." Cotton is graded in order to determine a price. Fair cotton is a certain grade and demands a certain price whereas middling cotton will bring more. I'm fair to middlin' t'day thankya Suh-- In true Southern, the above responce means: I am not sick and I am not the best I have ever been but I am OK and hope you are. I'm saying I'm fair to middling in case you are feeling down and I would not want to hurt your feelings by telling you just how good I really feel on this fine day. I'm always safe down South to say I'm middle of the road (Fair to middling). Ed Sherman