The Story of The Middle Finger

[Spring Onion]

The Story of The Middle Finger

I never knew this 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. Isn't history more fun when you know something about it?

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 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.'

IT IS STILL AN APPROPRIATE SALUTE TO THE FRENCH TODAY!

 

[xebex]

Well thatz one part of the story. Am sure humanbeings are using middle finger for something else way before than 1415 and people still use that to represent what it really means than French-English story.

Origin #1
The origin of this gesture is speculative, and quite possibly thousands of years old. A popular origin is that during the Hundred Years' War, the French would cut off the middle fingers of captured English archers so they would be unable to use their bows, and that after the Battle of Agincourt, the victorious English showed the French that their middle fingers were still intact. This legend is also said of the V sign.

Origin #2
It is identified as the digitus impudicus ("impudent finger") in Ancient Roman writings and reference is made to using the finger in the ancient Greek comedy to insult another person. The widespread usage of the finger in many cultures is likely due to the geographical influence of the Roman Empire and Greco-Roman civilization.

Origin #3
Another possible origin of this gesture can be found in the first-century Mediterranean world, where extending the digitus impudicus was one of many methods used to divert the ever present threat of the evil eye.

thanks to wikipedia.

 

[Spring Onion]

And there is another version too involving a a French woman and errrrrrrrrrrr not good to mention.

I dont know about French-English much but iknow here we Pathans sometime gesture our entire arm with clinched fist and elbow to challange others

Just like cricketers like Shoiab Akhatar who makes a gesture after taking a wicket hehehe

 

[fhassan]

The Story of The Middle Finger

I never knew this 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. Isn't history more fun when you know something about it?

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 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.'

IT IS STILL AN APPROPRIATE SALUTE TO THE FRENCH TODAY!

All of the above is wrong. That is NOT how the middle finger expression originated.

 

[Spring Onion]

All of the above is wrong. That is NOT how the middle finger expression originated.

I have talked to an older Brit and he said something else also about this but also about longelbow.

I dont know which version is true.

if you have info please post.

 

[duhastmish]

I think - those are all hoax , and middle finger means just one thing - and that has to do with the use of it . in some certain manner. thats it !!!!

 

[vsdoc]

Just like cricketers like Shoiab Akhatar who makes a gesture after taking a wicket hehehe

You mean his arms like the wings of an aeroplane zig zagging in flight?

Wonder what that signifies in the current context of the thread LOL

Cheers, Doc

 

[Spring Onion]

You mean his arms like the wings of an aeroplane zig zagging in flight?

Wonder what that signifies in the current context of the thread LOL

Cheers, Doc

No i meant this one

 

[dabong1]

The story you mention is about the "v" sign shown forwards rather then backwards ,showing the sign for victory.
In the UK showing the middle the finger has more to do with mimicking the US.
The middle and index pointed forward means f*ck off in the UK and i think thats the real orgin of the middle finger insult..

 

[MastanKhan]

No i meant this one

Hi,

This sign means power---if it meant the other item that you want it to mean----all the players would have been punished out of a pay check by now. Remember the umpires also know about the local signs and chosen words.

But you have a good story about the middle finger----there maybe a thousand and one other versions---and yours is a good one amongst others.

 

[EagleEyes]

Gul looks like a sher in that picture.. No not Nawaz Sharif!

 

[Xeric]

Are we talking about this:

It takes 34 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but only 8 to flip your finger and say F*** off. So guess what i am going to do?

 

[vsdoc]

No i meant this one

Cant see the foto .... cricinfo is blocked.

Cheers, Doc

 

[Evil Flare]

Cant see the foto .... cricinfo is blocked.

Cheers, Doc

What ??


blocked


but why ???

 

[vsdoc]

Blocked in office ..... to prevent time wastage.

Cheers, Doc