The History of the Middle Finger

ComfyBear · Post by **ComfyBear** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 9:46 pm

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 weapon 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! "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."

And yew thought yew knew everything...

GREY OWL · Post by **GREY OWL** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 10:26 pm

Very interesting read Comfy. Sure glad I still have my middle finger, comes in handy in traffic. HEHE

Grey Owl

BigBird-VA · Post by **BigBird-VA** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 11:26 pm

No matter the history on it I'm doing my part to carry on the tradition. I did a little history lesson tonight for a %$$%^ driver.

GaryL · Post by **GaryL** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 12:18 am

dnepr · Post by **dnepr** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 10:08 am

And I always thought that is where there the British two finger flipoff came from . showing the French thet they still the fingers required to pull back the long bow. Now wasn't Agicourt where the French turned on there crossbowmen for what was basically a tactical retreat and regroup. If I remember correctly ( and with my memory all bets are off) they saw it a as a full on runaway retreat. and slaughtered them for cowardice . could have been a different battle , just because I enjoy history doesn't mean that I am any good at it !!

Golden Eagle · Post by **Golden Eagle** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 5:43 pm

Woody Williams · Post by **Woody Williams** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 6:44 pm

http://www.snopes.com/language/apocryph/pluckyew.htm

.

wickedandlazee · Post by **wickedandlazee** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 7:26 am

Correct it is the two fingers not the middle finger that was cut off when any archers were captured.

Guess the meanings still the same