You'll love this! -
The history of the middle finger
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!
Middle finger history
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Middle finger history
SUA SPONTE - "We few, we happy few, we BAND OF BROTHERS;
for he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother!" - Shakespeare
RLTW! - Land of the Free BECAUSE of the Brave
RS 3-70
SSG VN 69-70
I Co., 75th. Inf.
4/9 Inf., 25th ID
Mentored Ranger kozzman555
http://www.75thrra.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - LM 183
http://www.ranger.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - LM 3537
for he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother!" - Shakespeare
RLTW! - Land of the Free BECAUSE of the Brave
RS 3-70
SSG VN 69-70
I Co., 75th. Inf.
4/9 Inf., 25th ID
Mentored Ranger kozzman555
http://www.75thrra.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - LM 183
http://www.ranger.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - LM 3537
- rgrokelley
- Triple Canopy
- Posts: 2860
- Joined: February 5th, 2008, 5:57 pm
Re: Middle finger history
I know, I know... its in the good humor zone.... however...
ACK!!! Its also bullshit!
On a historical note, the middle finger gesture is recorded first during the Roman Empire.
"Fuck" is a derivative of an ancient Germanic term that means to push.
ACK!!! Its also bullshit!
On a historical note, the middle finger gesture is recorded first during the Roman Empire.
"Fuck" is a derivative of an ancient Germanic term that means to push.
A & C Company, 3rd Ranger Battalion 1984-1986
2/325, 82nd Airborne 1979-1984
F Company, 51st LRSU 1986-1988
5th Special Forces Group 1989-1995
3rd Special Forces Group 1997-1999
RS - DHG 5-85
2/325, 82nd Airborne 1979-1984
F Company, 51st LRSU 1986-1988
5th Special Forces Group 1989-1995
3rd Special Forces Group 1997-1999
RS - DHG 5-85
Re: Middle finger history
Nothing fucks up a good story like some fuckin' historian with facts.
I never wore a cape, but I still have my dog tags.
Experienced Peek Freak!!
173rd Abn LRRP...'66/'67
C/1/506 101st Abn
B/2/325 82nd Abn
Experienced Peek Freak!!
173rd Abn LRRP...'66/'67
C/1/506 101st Abn
B/2/325 82nd Abn
Re: Middle finger history
....and all this time I thought it was because of that Chinese guy working for the Greek merchant who made fun of the Chinese guy's problem saying "fried rice", so the Chinese guy practiced and practiced until he stopped saying "flied lice"., so when the Greek merchant challenged the Chinese guy, he said "It's FRIED RICE, so pluck you, you Gleek plick!!"
RLTW
Lefty
SFOC 1969
6th SFG(A) 69-70
Ranger Class 13-70
MACV Tm 21 70-71 (2nd ARVN Ranger Gp 23d
BN)
2/13 Armor 1st Cav 71-72
"Experience teaches a dear school, but fools will learn in no other, and some scarce in that"
Lefty
SFOC 1969
6th SFG(A) 69-70
Ranger Class 13-70
MACV Tm 21 70-71 (2nd ARVN Ranger Gp 23d
BN)
2/13 Armor 1st Cav 71-72
"Experience teaches a dear school, but fools will learn in no other, and some scarce in that"
Re: Middle finger history
Is that like historian tourrettes?
C Co 3/75 88-90 (Just Cause)
124 MI(LRSD) 90-91 (Desert Storm)
Repeal the 16th, enforce the 10th.
ΜΩΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
"I come in peace. I didn't bring artillery. But I'm pleading with you, with tears in my eyes: If you fuck with me, I'll kill you all." Gen. James Mattis
Panem Et Circenses
My safe space
124 MI(LRSD) 90-91 (Desert Storm)
Repeal the 16th, enforce the 10th.
ΜΩΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
"I come in peace. I didn't bring artillery. But I'm pleading with you, with tears in my eyes: If you fuck with me, I'll kill you all." Gen. James Mattis
Panem Et Circenses
My safe space
- rgrokelley
- Triple Canopy
- Posts: 2860
- Joined: February 5th, 2008, 5:57 pm
Re: Middle finger history
Never, ever, watch a war movie with one of us. It would be like watching Blackhawk Down with some Rangers who were thereSlowpoke wrote:Nothing fucks up a good story like some fuckin' historian with facts.
A & C Company, 3rd Ranger Battalion 1984-1986
2/325, 82nd Airborne 1979-1984
F Company, 51st LRSU 1986-1988
5th Special Forces Group 1989-1995
3rd Special Forces Group 1997-1999
RS - DHG 5-85
2/325, 82nd Airborne 1979-1984
F Company, 51st LRSU 1986-1988
5th Special Forces Group 1989-1995
3rd Special Forces Group 1997-1999
RS - DHG 5-85
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- US Army Veteran
- Posts: 377
- Joined: July 19th, 2004, 8:37 pm
Re: Middle finger history
Actually, the British "2-finger salute"/"reverse Peace Sign"/"reverse V for Victory" can be traced to this history. And the term "fuck" is a British Naval acronym for a certain violation: "Fornication & Unnatural Carnal Knowledge", which was then readily adopted by the foreign nationals they constripted into their service.Ranger Ron wrote:You'll love this! -
The history of the middle finger
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!
Re: Middle finger history
Fuck you guys
HHC 1/75 mtrs Apr 2000- dec 2003
hang it, FIRE!!!!
"I feel sorry for anyone who is not an alcoholic---How would you like to wake up every moring & know that is the best you will feel all day?" W.C. Fields
1st Ranger Bn...We may not go down in history but we will go down on your sister
hang it, FIRE!!!!
"I feel sorry for anyone who is not an alcoholic---How would you like to wake up every moring & know that is the best you will feel all day?" W.C. Fields
1st Ranger Bn...We may not go down in history but we will go down on your sister
Re: Middle finger history
No shit.Slowpoke wrote:Nothing fucks up a good story like some fuckin' historian with facts.
I still enjoyed it Ron. Thanks brother.
2/75 HHC C/E 89-92
Rio Hato/AO Diaz CCT/Commo
"It is a heavy thing, to see a Father so strong in life, unable to rise."
"A great civilization is not conquered from without
until it has destroyed itself from within." -W. Durant
Rio Hato/AO Diaz CCT/Commo
"It is a heavy thing, to see a Father so strong in life, unable to rise."
"A great civilization is not conquered from without
until it has destroyed itself from within." -W. Durant
- rgrokelley
- Triple Canopy
- Posts: 2860
- Joined: February 5th, 2008, 5:57 pm
Re: Middle finger history
SighCloakAndDagger wrote:Actually, the British "2-finger salute"/"reverse Peace Sign"/"reverse V for Victory" can be traced to this history. And the term "fuck" is a British Naval acronym for a certain violation: "Fornication & Unnatural Carnal Knowledge", which was then readily adopted by the foreign nationals they constripted into their service.
Nope. Fuck does not come from that. Nor does it mean "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge", nor does it mean "Fornication under Consent of the King". Fuck is most likely Germanic/Dutch and not English, but it is so old, pre-dating the British Navy, that no one knows where it came from exactly. The first time it is written down in an English book is from 1503 Oxford Dictionary, which doesn't mention any acronym whatsoever (which is a more modern thing and not used back then).
A & C Company, 3rd Ranger Battalion 1984-1986
2/325, 82nd Airborne 1979-1984
F Company, 51st LRSU 1986-1988
5th Special Forces Group 1989-1995
3rd Special Forces Group 1997-1999
RS - DHG 5-85
2/325, 82nd Airborne 1979-1984
F Company, 51st LRSU 1986-1988
5th Special Forces Group 1989-1995
3rd Special Forces Group 1997-1999
RS - DHG 5-85