FULL TO THE GUNELLS
This is basically a mis-spelling, hence the phrase for being full to the brim is widely looked upon as a bit puzzling. The phrase is actually ‘Full to the Gunwales’ but pronounced ‘Gunnells’ hence the spelling error. Gunwales are in fact gun walls which are the upper edge of the planking on a ship’s sides between the quarter deck and the forecastle. It can also refer to a piece of timber extended around the topside of the hull on smaller vessels. During the 15th Century heavily laden ships were referred to as being ‘packed to the gunwales.’
