What is the Origin of the Middle Finger?

Question

The History of the Middle Finger 
  
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 '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.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

LOL TY for the lesson. I know to have it differentiates us from cartoon characters with 3 fingers.

Actually there are many variations globally of finger and hand gestures, and anyone who wants to travel extensively should not only learn rudimentary words, to converse, but any hand/finger gestures as well. In some countries to make a gesture you're uncertain of, could get you beheaded.

Plucking Angel, LOL

? · Answer

From Wikipedia: "The beginning place of this gesture is speculative, and quite in all probability 1000's of years previous. it relatively is pointed out because of the fact the digitus impudicus ("impudent finger") in historical Roman writings and reference is made to employing the finger in the classic Greek comedy to insult yet somebody else. The conventional utilization of the finger in many cultures is in all probability because of the geographical impact of the Roman Empire and Greco-Roman civilization. yet another attainable beginning place of this gesture may be got here upon in the 1st-century Mediterranean international, the place extending the digitus impudicus became into between the procedures used to divert the ever-present hazard of the evil eye. yet another attainable beginning place is the phallic imagery of the raised center finger (the middle finger being the longest finger on the human hand), such as the Italian version of the bent elbow insult. additionally, there's a version of the finger the place that is finished by employing appearing The Fangul, by employing protruding the finger for the time of the throwing action. a nicely-liked city legend states that for the time of the Hundred Years' conflict, the French could shrink off the middle palms of captured English archers so they could be no longer able to apply their bows, and that once the conflict of Agincourt, the powerful English confirmed the French that their center palms have been nevertheless intact. This legend is likewise stated of the V sign."

Anonymous · Answer

Lmao this was very funny! One of the funniest facts i've ever seen.
Now if i go on a gameshow and reach the final question for a million dollars and they ask " From where did the middle finger gesture originate" i will know the answer ! LOL
Remind me to give u a share.

take a look at this

A Second Witness · Answer

You may be right.  It turns out that the explanation for that word that was previously passed on to me is an urban legend.

Then again, since you call yourself Hog Wash, perhaps I should believe Wikipedia, as suggested by Lara!

Clo ! · Answer

LOL ! Very insightful my friend but you should see the link below, to understand the "ironic" part of the middle finger !! LMAO !!

http://palmistry.findyourfate.com/palmistry-fingers.htm

Scuba-Jo · Answer

Very Interesting.  STAR.

Now I've got one for you...   Why do we wear the wedding ring on the fourth finger?  Well, the Chinese have an old saying of why we wear it on this finger.  

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1091345/why_wedding_ring_on_4th_finger/

Pretty neat, eh???

GO GREEN! · Answer

Oh yes, my history teacher told us about this Hahah

its really funny actually

Curious · Answer

This is one funny story i like this story

Anonymous · Answer

A nice story, but it's not really a joke, at least not a good one. 

Sorry, but there's better out there

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What is the Origin of the Middle Finger?

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