History of the middle finger

[YogsVR4]

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 be incapable of fighting in the future. This famous weapon 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 began mocking the French by waving their middle fingers at the defeated and saying, "See, we can still pluck yew." PLUCK YEW! Over the years some 'folk etymologies' have grown up around this symbolic gesture. Since 'pluck yew' is rather difficult to say (like "pleasant mother pheasant plucker"), which is who you had to go to for the feathers used on the arrows for the longbow), the difficult consonant cluster at the beginning has gradually changed to a labiodental fricative 'F', and thus the words often used in conjunction with the one-finger-salute are mistakenly thought to have something to do with an intimate encounter. It is also because of the pheasant feathers on the arrows that the symbolic gesture is known as "giving the bird".

And yew thought yew knew everything!

[i_rebel]

You guys are REALLY getting bored around here, aren't you?

[YogsVR4]

Just killing time... which is still not illegal.

[igor@af]

haha
good one

[Porsche]

Ah, this place is a fountain of knowledge. I learn something new everyday.

[verboom]

Ah, that's great. A big load of crap, but great.

[primera man]

I ask you lord to give me strength to visit this site over and over to read such wonderful........ BULLSHIT:finger: :finger: :finger:




Just joking ...intresting though how storys can change over the years.

[Lizard King]

Is there any truth to that?

I think the middle finger thing is American. It only recently made it over here. (By recent I mean last 50 years maybe) Middle and index finger together are the more traditional English 'hand signal'.

[YogsVR4]

I cant believe there is any truth to that at all. But it makes for a good story.

[matt]

It actually is true. I wasn't there, but I heard the same story from one of my history teachers. "pluck yew" lol

[primera man]

Originally posted by matt
It actually is true. I wasn't there

I would hope you weren't there as that would make you 586 years old

[MaximusGTR]

Never knew that but always wondered where it came from

[YogsVR4]

Holy - back from the dead Batman!

[RickyDimes]

i heard that the peace sign is vulgar to aussies. does anyone know if this is true????

[MaximusGTR]

Hey Yogs, I knew that would tickle you