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!
And yew thought yew knew every plucking thing
6 comments:
This is from Robert Whulls "Assume the Position" on HBO fantastic Special and a different way to look at history,
Too Cool...LOL!!! That was very insightful and humorous to.
actually, the English don't use the finger gesture we do here in the States. they display the index finger in a "v" along with the middle finger. since both fingers would be required to draw a bow, I guess this could be where that came from... is this whole thing a joke Joe? I was always curious how this started. Where did you get this story?
Actually, even I beleive there is at least a smattering of truth to this story....there is a certain four word expletive that has also become universal language as well, no matter what the sign language interpretations..the most clever amongst us can use this {F}our letter expletive as a noun, verb, adjective and adverb; or just a spontaneous exclamation of feeling..and no translation is necessary in either Spain, France, Brazil, China, or whatever language they speak in that gnome country New Zealand..
Prior to that event in time, the middle finger was a "blade" symbol for Satan. The two finger symbol (peace sign) was an ancient symbol for Satan. Because Satan is known to have qualities of both female and male humanity, there were the two symbols. Blade and Vulva are the sexual symbols of Satan. Additionally, the OK sign is an ancient symbol of Satan. It stands for 666, and was always given with the right hand.
5:42 thanks im no educated in satanism.
My high school history teacher told us this story. (the middle finger, not the satanic lesson)
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