history lesson

[$parechange]

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.

[FasterThanYou]

Here's to you France.

[$parechange]

[KYCanuck]

Now, now, remember it was France that came to the resuce when this country wanted to get rid of the British and become an independant nation. They may have become a little crabby since then but American's owe much of what they have to them. Otherwise we would be singing God Save Our Queen!



At least now I know I can just say "Pluck Yew" instead.

[JLA]

Leave it to a Canadian to defend the French!! Who loves ya KYC!