The History Of The Middle Finger

In case if you don't know which is the middle finger,

here's a diagram for you. XD :

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.

- Jessica Alba -

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!"

- Justin Timberlake -

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 with the one-finger-salute!

It is also because of the pheasant 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!

- Megan Fox -

And yew thought yew knew every plucking thing!

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DISCLAIMER : This whole story is total bullshit. HAHAHA!

It is just a joke Ken Yang sent to me and also I found it on the internet.

*click me*

IT'S NOT TRUE!!!!!!

The origin of the middle finger has yet to be confirmed.

Some said it is related to the Middle English word "fucken" or German word "ficken" which both meant penetrate.

There is another common joke about the F-word.

Got it from the internet too. =)

*click me*

In ancient England, a person could not have sex unless you have the consent of the King (unless you were in the Royal family). When anyone want to have baby, they got consent from the King. Then the King gave them a placard that they hung on their door while they were having sex. The placard had the word F.U.C.K. (Fornification Under Consent of the King) on it.

Hope you enjoyed reading this! =)

Have a plucking great day! XD