Giving The Finger

**Bumper** · 10-02-2004

The following offering comes to you courtesy of Seakony, who sent it to me for inclusion here. Thank you, Rita. All submissions are welcome.

Giving The Finger

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 for them to draw the renowned English longbow, and therefore they would be incapable of fighting in the future. This famous weapon was always made from the wood 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 and chagrin of the French, the English won a major upset in the battle and began mocking the French by waving their middle fingers at the defeated army, saying, “See, we can still pluck yew!”

Since “pluck yew” is somewhat awkward to say, the difficult consonant cluster at the beginning has gradually changed to the labiodental fricative “F”, and thus evolved the word generally used in conjunction with the mono-digital salute! It is also because of the pheasant feathers traditionally used as fletches on the arrows used with the longbow that the symbolic gesture is customarily known as “giving the bird.”

And yew thought yew knew everything!

**sctx** · 10-02-2004

I know it really riles up Mexican collectivo drivers

**james** · 10-02-2004

Bumper, do you use CBS's research department?

http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl-pluck-yew.htm

**Bumper** · 10-02-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by james

Bumper, do you use CBS's research department?

http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl-pluck-yew.htm

Harrumph! CBS's Research Department should only hope to have my resources and insight. If Dan Rather had called me first, he wouldn't have stepped in it like he did! Uppity talking head!

KathyMc · 10-13-2004

Quote:

Dan Rather had called me first, he wouldn't have stepped in it like he did! Uppity talking head!

Oh Bumper, you had me at (not hello) Uppity talking head!

10-02-2004	#1 (permalink)
Bumper Class Clown Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Winnipeg, Canada Posts: 9,658	Giving The Finger The following offering comes to you courtesy of Seakony, who sent it to me for inclusion here. Thank you, Rita. All submissions are welcome. Giving The Finger 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 for them to draw the renowned English longbow, and therefore they would be incapable of fighting in the future. This famous weapon was always made from the wood 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 and chagrin of the French, the English won a major upset in the battle and began mocking the French by waving their middle fingers at the defeated army, saying, “See, we can still pluck yew!” Since “pluck yew” is somewhat awkward to say, the difficult consonant cluster at the beginning has gradually changed to the labiodental fricative “F”, and thus evolved the word generally used in conjunction with the mono-digital salute! It is also because of the pheasant feathers traditionally used as fletches on the arrows used with the longbow that the symbolic gesture is customarily known as “giving the bird.” And yew thought yew knew everything!

10-02-2004	#3 (permalink)
james beach geek admin Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: 10 year Playa resident lost in Kullavik, Sweden Posts: 9,721	Bumper, do you use CBS's research department? http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl-pluck-yew.htm __________________ My lovely house is for sale Get your own signature countdown image!

10-02-2004	#2 (permalink)
sctx political anarchist Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Body in San Marcos Tx....Tankah in my mind Posts: 27,730	I know it really riles up Mexican collectivo drivers

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