This refers to the governor on a steam engine. Two heavy balls are attached to the engine so that as engine speed increases, the centrifigal force of the flywheel causes the balls to rise. As the balls top out, they govern (limit) the engine, thereby controlling maximum engine speed. "Balls out," then, refers to running the engine at maximum speed.
Originally referred to the governor on old steam engines that had two ball that rotated across one another that would control speed depending on how fast they spun. Balls out meant going full speed or power.
Old timey terminology: on steam engines, they had steel balls in there that resricted steam flow. When the conductor was ready to pick up speed, he'd yell "Balls out!", signaling the help to do just that, thereby letting them haul some ass.
Pj: Dude I'am such a pussy. I don't know if I can give this speech in front of all that people.
Me: Dude, I know that speech is worth 50 percent of your grade and your out of xanax. But you gotta go balls out on this one man.
By Maureene
Balls Out
Squirrels are known to have a large testicle-to-body-ratio, i.e. they have lagelesticles in relation to the body. During mating season, male squirrels fight for females and territory. During such fights, the male squirrel tucks away his testicles into a furry pouch in order to protect them. Sometimes, however, a male is suprised by a rival and must fight quickly, leaving no time to tuck away the testicles. Consequently, the squirrel has to fight "balls out," a term that has come to refer to heated, all-out confrontations in the human world.
Wow, that squirrel there snuck up on the other one and made him fight balls out. Guess that settles that procreation conflict for the next few weeks.
