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 THE HISTORICAL ORIGIN OF "THE FINGER"

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Ms. Marliz
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Ms. Marliz


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THE HISTORICAL ORIGIN OF "THE FINGER" Empty
PostSubject: THE HISTORICAL ORIGIN OF "THE FINGER"   THE HISTORICAL ORIGIN OF "THE FINGER" EmptyTue Jan 22, 2013 12:10 pm

This is not meant to be crude. It is strictly for your edification
and enjoyment.

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, 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." 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!"

Over the years, some 'folk etymologies' have grown up around this
symbolic gesture. Since 'pluck yew' is rather difficult to say (like
"pleasant moth! er pheasant plucker", which is who you had to go to for
the feathers used on the arrows for the longbow), the difficult
consonant cluster at the beginning has gradually changed to a
labiodental fricative 'F', and thus the words often used in
conjunction with the one-finger-salute are mistakenly thought to have
something to do with an intimate encounter. It is also because of the
pheasant feathers on the arrows that the symbolic gesture is known
as "giving the bird."

Are you not thrilled that you have someone that will send you
educational stuff like this?
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