The history of the middle finger

**Big Al** · 09-08-07, 08:16 AM

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. 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!

And yew thought yew knew every plucking thing.

**Ruffy** · 09-08-07, 10:39 AM

Yes! lol that was funny

**Resident Smart Ass** · 09-08-07, 11:22 AM

Oldie but still a goodie

**Ianl6** · 09-08-07, 11:45 AM

And it is still the appropriate salute for the French from this English man.

**SaraJ** · 09-08-07, 03:22 PM

Well. I feel very educated. That was enlightening. Does this mean that it's permissible to greet someone with the middle finger salute and if they should object, explain to them that it is an ancient English/French custom? I'm not sure that I'm brave enough. . .

**Motorwaycop** · 09-08-07, 05:00 PM

Originally Posted by Big Al

Much to the bewilderment of the French, the English won a major upset

Probably much to the bewilderment of the English too!

It's a mystery to me how we've ever won anything.

Perhaps it's because we don't give a pluck.

**Pudge** · 09-08-07, 05:09 PM

Very nice!

**Big Al** · 09-08-07, 07:19 PM

Originally Posted by Resident Smart Ass

Oldie but still a goodie

Yes, RSA, I am an oldie and damn good,,

Acutally though that was the first time I have seen the history of the finger>

**Tony** · 09-08-07, 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by Motorwaycop

Probably much to the bewilderment of the English too!

It's a mystery to me how we've ever won anything.

Perhaps it's because we don't give a pluck.

. . . . well, you could win more, but you have flaws in some sport set ups, like all those imported players in County cricket not letting your younger cricketers getting the grounding they need.

Originally Posted by Ianl6

And it is still the appropriate salute for the French from this English man.

From all of us . . .