packed to the gunwales

The phrase "packed to the gunwales" refers to a situation in which something or a place is completely full, filled to its maximum capacity, and often overcrowded. It originated from nautical terminology, where the gunwale is the upper edge of a ship's side that provides structural strength. When a vessel was fully loaded with cargo or passengers, sometimes even exceeding its intended capacity, it would be described as being "packed to the gunwales."