[Scottish2008]

The history of the middle finger

Well, now... here's something I never knew before, and now that I know it, 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 (25 October 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."


SOME SAY IT IS STILL AN APPROPRIATE SALUTE TO THE FRENCH TODAY!


And yew thought yew knew every plucking thing

[bengill5878]

Wow I never know that. Thanks for teling me

[excon]

And yew thought yew knew every plucking thing

Hello Scotty:

Yer pluckin right I did.

excon

[Scottish2008]

Hello Scotty:

Yer pluckin right I did.

excon

Lmao.. thanks for the laugh excon

[templelane]

That's the history of th V sign* not the middle finger! You need two fingers to draw a bow.
The Archers' V-sign: an urban legend - The V-sign - Icons of England

* For the non Brits it's like the Victory V sign (think Churchill) but you show the back of your hand.

EDIT but apparently it was a myth anyway :( Can't we all pretend it's true?

[Scottish2008]

That's the history of th V sign* not the middle finger! You need two fingers to draw a bow.
The Archers' V-sign: an urban legend - The V-sign - Icons of England

* For the non Brits it's like the Victory V sign (think Churchill) but you show the back of your hand.

It's only a joke

[magprob]

Now for the facts. The "one-finger salute," or at any rate sexual gestures involving the middle finger, are thousands of years old. In Gestures: Their Origins and Distribution, Desmond Morris and colleagues note that the digitus infamis or digitus impudicus (infamous or indecent finger) is mentioned several times in the literature of ancient Rome. Turning to our vast classical library, we quickly turn up three references. Two are from the epigrammatist Martial: "Laugh loudly, Sextillus, when someone calls you a queen and put your middle finger out."

Cute Story though.

[templelane]

It's only a joke

I know! It's only banter!:D

[Flying Blue Eagle]

Hay Scottish2008 - It's better known as the ( INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGEBY the way -WHAT IS 1British pound = to in american money,? :: have a good day and GOD BLESS >::::F.B.E.

[annebren]

Hey- I love useless knowledge, thanks

[simo11]

The history of the middle finger

Well, now......here's something I never knew before, and now that I know it, 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 (25 October 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."


SOME SAY IT IS STILL AN APPROPRIATE SALUTE TO THE FRENCH TODAY!


And yew thought yew knew every plucking thing

You are good so lesten to this joke like a present to you
This is one,2,3,4,5,6,7, want to fight with the zero.the zero found himself in a big trouble and he tied himself in the middle and he become 8. I wish to like this and I have lot lot of jokes

[CaptainRich]

Sounds like something from the Bathroom Reader... Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Home page

hey- i love useless knowledge, thanks

By the way, Anne, I thought all knowledge was useful. ;)

Keep 'em coming, and keep us laughing, Scottish