4uiprnt Loc: Iowa

Isn't history more fun when you know something about it ?

The History of the Middle Finger:

Well, now......here's something I never knew before, and now that I know it, I feel compelled to send it on to my more intelligent friends in the hope that they, too, will feel edified.

Before the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, the French, anticipating victory over the English, proposed to cut off the middle finger of all captured English soldiers. Without the middle finger it would be impossible to draw the renowned English longbow and therefore they would be incapable of fighting in the future. This famous English longbow was made of the native English Yew tree, and the act of drawing the longbow was known as 'plucking the yew' (or 'pluck yew').

Much to the bewilderment of the French, the English won a major upset and they began mocking the French by waving their middle fingers at the defeated French, saying, See, we can still pluck yew! Since 'pluck yew' is rather difficult to say, the difficult consonant cluster at the beginning has gradually changed to a labiodentals fricative F', and thus the words often used in conjunction with the one-finger-salute! It is also because of the pheasant feathers on the arrows used with the longbow that the symbolic gesture is known as 'giving the bird.'


And yew thought yew knew every plucking thing.

Doddy Loc: Barnard Castle-England

Well Pluck me!!

rocar7 Loc: Alton, England

It's a good story, one of several similar. Usually it refers to the "V" sign, as the French were supposed to have threatened to cut off the first two fingers rather than just the middle one. This side of the Atlantic we use the "V" sign, while Americans use the middle finger, so I suppose that explains the different versions of the story. There may be a grain of truth in the story, but nobody really knows. After all, it was 600 years ago, and any original will have been changed and embellished many times in that time. It's a bit like the story of the origin of the word "posh". If you remember Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, "posh" comes from Port Out Starboard Home, which was how the wealthier passengers were allocated cabins on the sea voyage from England to the East, especially India. There is absolutely no evidence for this at all, and, in fact, the word "posh" has been recorded well before these voyages were made.

whitewolfowner

And I thought it came from mice. It was their last great act of defiance as the eagle was bearing down on them for lunch. LOL

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Yes, there are several stories about how that originated. Take your pick. I suspect many of them were made up years after the fact.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Is your avatar a '57 Desoto?

peteto Loc: Las Vegas

Lol

Makaipi Loc: Lexington, South Carolina

When I was stationed in the Middle East in the service, our authorities asked us to not use the sign for thumbs up and the "ok" sign. As it was explained to me thumbs up meant "up yours " and the "ok " sign meant a signature of ones sexual orientation. Anybody run into that or have a different take?

Goober Loc: Southeastern PA

Well now, ain't that some stuff for ya! I never realized that I am a historian behind the wheel.

Goober Loc: Southeastern PA

Well now, ain't that some stuff for ya! I never realized that I am a historian behind the wheel.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

There was a post here a while ago about being cautious when traveling in foreign countries. Words, gestures, and even clothing can be offensive.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Yup, I have read that somewhere. It seems that a lot of Americans are unaware of countries outside our own. Thus, give little heed to what may be offensive to others. It's best to be very conservative when visiting other countries until one learns the customs. In many middle eastern countries, it's best not to touch your food with your left hand. In some African cultures it's best not to show another person the bottom of one's feet. Little things like that can really upset some.
--Bob

4uiprnt Loc: Iowa

Yes Jerry, it's a 57 Desoto, My first car when I turned 16. The picture is even the right color. Bought it for $200.00, drove it home and the fuel pump crapped out, but back then you could actually see everything on the engine and it only too a few bolts to change it out. I loved the push buttons on the dash to run the transmission. You brought back a lot of fond memories with your question.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

If not offensive, at least it might unkowingly convey a message.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

Didn't Sir Winston Churchill hold up the index & middle fingers in the V in a famous WW2 picture.

Hey, rocar7 - make a longish piece on POSH - I like to repost stories to my friends.