History of the Middle Finger!

[Dantheman62]

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.

[371]

I also heard in the days before toilet paper, when leaves and corn cobs weren't available they used 'the hook' method (middle finger).

That's also where the custom of shaking hands with the right hand- as the left hand was for wiping yer butt.

[Dantheman62]

HaHaHa, lol! and eeeewww

[Orion11]

LOL!!

pluckin phunny!!!
:D

[Dantheman62]

:mf_pain::mfr_lol::lmao:

[371]

IT IS STILL AN APPROPRIATE SALUTE TO THE FRENCH TODAY!



I liked that part:naughty:

[raulduke]

Thanks Dan.

Very interesting. The etymology of profane colloquialsms is indeed an overlooked and underated pursuit.

President Bush and I salute you.:original:

http://z.about.com/d/politicalhumor/1/0/w/b/bush_finger_flip.jpg

Pluck Yew, I won't do what you tell me. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCiTVdrK3jE)

[capreycorn]

http://www.grouchyoldcripple.com/archives/fwinter.jpg

[Swanny]

Great story :)
The way I've heard that story is they cut off the middle and index finger, and the bowmen would wave both which is what we do in Britain rather than the middle finger :original:

When they caught our bowmen they would cut off the two fingers making the bowman useless, but they would still stand on top of the battlements and pretend to be ready with their bows, the French realised they were being tricked so thought it would be ok to still attack, to prove to the French that they still had their fingers they would wave them at the French soldiers. :tongue2:

http://andywasright.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/Andy2fingers.317145328_std.jpg

We had the best bowmen in the world by a long way, it was the law in Britain that everyman had to practice with the bow everyday


One finger is more American

[Swanny]

Some Americans use two fingers :original:

http://www.speedreading-motorbooks.co.uk/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/.pond/2fingers2.jpg.w300h433.jpg

[Rareheart]

I like to learn at least one 'new' thing per day...thanks:original:
I'll never think of the finger the same way again.

with this I got a lesson and a chuckle.

:lmfao:

[Antaletriangle]

This is what happens to you-more than a little finger removed.
35 secs in.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=RlmD_67ffp4

[Steve_A]

Hi Dantheman62,

Now why can't we have history lessons like that one in our schools?

I'll never look at an archer in the same way ever again! :)

Best regards,

Steve



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.

[Orion11]

raul bro. thas hilarious!! haha

and capreycorn.. lmaoo!! hahahaha

hilarious.. :D

[blastawaycas]

the story is absolutely bang on, but it is the two fingers not the middle one, everything else is pop on taget:tongue2::tongue2::tongue2:

[Myra]

LOL.

:roll1:

[Dantheman62]

Thanks everybody, Ha I didn't think this would get much attention, funny raul,caprey,swanny, you guys and your pictures!

[Antaletriangle]

I also heard in the days before toilet paper, when leaves and corn cobs weren't available they used 'the hook' method (middle finger).

That's also where the custom of shaking hands with the right hand- as the left hand was for wiping yer butt.

Yeah the monarchy in Henry VIII times used to use swan's necks for toilet paper!!

[Dantheman62]

Swan's necks? geez, couldn't they find something else:mfr_omg::giljotiini:

[bodzoyfa]

And here I thought the "F" bomb was an acronym for Fornication Under the Command of the King! :lmao:

Thanks for the mind meat, Dan.

[Reunite]

http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp227/henryflowers33/banana029-1.gif

[Swanny]

The queen is the only person in Britain allowed to eat a swan :original:

[traveler008]

plucking good job! now thats funny i dont care who you are

[Humble Janitor]

Pluck Yew, NWO!

*raises middle finger*

[Dantheman62]

Thanks HumbleJ and all the rest