the history of giving someone the finger.

[rottie]

THE HISTORY OF 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 an archer to draw his 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 commonly known as "plucking the yew" or, more simply, "pluck yew."

Much to the astonishment 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 "pheasant plucker" -- the person you had to go to for the feathers used on the longbow arrows), the difficult consonant cluster at the beginning has gradually evolved to a labiodental fricative 'F.'
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 because of the pheasant feathers on the arrows that the symbolic gesture is also known as "giving (someone) the bird."

[SlapHappyPappy]

Interesting...


Oh yeah, and Roxie....pluck yew!

[stone fox]

now theres some pointless trivia im am sure to impart on to others..cheers rottie that was interesting

on that note i think ill go "pluck my yew" now

[AceBurger]

What a surprise. The French were defeated in battle.

[rottie]

Originally posted by AceBurger
What a surprise. The French were defeated in battle.

Do you go around stirring up **** on purpose?

[stone fox]

the french are rarley beaten in battle burger:


















they surrender before the fight begins!!!

sorry i couldnt resist

[AceBurger]

Stirring up ****? I did not know we are not allowed to joke around. If anyone sees a personal attack in my response let me know.

[rottie]

Originally posted by AceBurger
Stirring up ****? I did not know we are not allowed to joke around. If anyone sees a personal attack in my response let me know.

Wasn't a personal attack, unless someone on here is French. Your line just had undertones of the French hatred that seems to be raging in the States now.

If it was a joke I apologize.

[squatlover]

Is that the true story of swearing? I've heard that story before, but I always thought it was bollocks. And how would plucking turn into shagging? dunno.

[rottie]

Originally posted by squatlover
Is that the true story of swearing? I've heard that story before, but I always thought it was bollocks. And how would plucking turn into shagging? dunno.

its the story of the middle finger... plucking to ****ing , it isnt that far a stretch. AS for it being historically accurate, I am not sure.. I would say yews the finger thing is, but as for the pluck yew thing, that may be a stretch.

[EngineThatCould]

Here's your history lesson.

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[Roxie]

Originally posted by SlapHappyPappy
Interesting...


Oh yeah, and Roxie....pluck yew!

I just don't get any love here anymore!!

[Amelia]

Originally posted by AceBurger
What a surprise. The French were defeated in battle.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA...yeah, hold on while I call a major news conference..

[NothingMan]

yeah i dont think thats right because here is the historty of where the **** came from

During the Middle Ages in Britain, husbands and wifes had to get approval from the King to have children. The King then gave the couple a placard to display above their doorway that stated, "Fornication Under Consent of the King".
F U C K
Hence the vulgar word we use today.

but i dont know i could be wrong

[w00t w00t]

Originally posted by NothingMan
yeah i dont think thats right because here is the historty of where the **** came from

During the Middle Ages in Britain, husbands and wifes had to get approval from the King to have children. The King then gave the couple a placard to display above their doorway that stated, "Fornication Under Consent of the King".
F U C K
Hence the vulgar word we use today.

but i dont know i could be wrong

I don't know if I would believe that one, ever take a look at old english as it compares to modern-day english?

Kind of interesting though.

[Rocky388]

Originally posted by NothingMan
yeah i dont think thats right because here is the historty of where the **** came from

During the Middle Ages in Britain, husbands and wifes had to get approval from the King to have children. The King then gave the couple a placard to display above their doorway that stated, "Fornication Under Consent of the King".
F U C K
Hence the vulgar word we use today.

but i dont know i could be wrong

one day in history we were asking my teacher about this (he told us about the middle finger...so i already heard what rottie said...which is the same thing my teacher said basically) but he said the history behind F U C K is:

back in the day...you were punished for cheating on your wife/husband. So when they would sentence you (usually you would get that thing...where they put your hands and head in and lock it...i forgot what its called) and they would write about your head what you were sentenced for...so they would write "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge" Which abbreviated to F U C K.

And if you had sex with a widow who had kids...you were a Mother F u c k er

Im pretty sure what my teacher said is right, he just said it with alittle more detail...and better than i just did lol.





I never knew why they called it "giving the bird"...the only time i heard that is when my brother gave an off duty cop the finger...(he didnt know he was off duty) and he ended up getting pulled over...and the cop was yellin at my brother giving him the bird...............its a long story...but my brother really wasnt at fault, the cop was just a dick

(note: not to change the topic or anything...just thought id......share that lol...but dont tell me how thats disrespecting cops, the people who protect us and all that kinda crap)

[AnthonyGoldsGym]

Test shall now support this thread with a visual aid.

[SlapHappyPappy]

Originally posted by AnthonyGoldsGym
Test shall now support this thread with a visual aid.

Whew! Thank god it's not a picture of what I thought it might be...

[Rocky388]

Originally posted by SlapHappyPappy
Whew! Thank god it's not a picture of what I thought it might be...

bump! lol

[AnthonyGoldsGym]

Originally posted by SlapHappyPappy
Whew! Thank god it's not a picture of what I thought it might be...

I'm still in therapy about opening the pic you're hinting at...no way I'd ever save it to my hard drive.

[John Promise]

Not sure about the stories behind the F-word.

I had an English professor who told us all the swears were the original English words. ie. **** was their work for having sex, **** was their word for a #2, etc.

When the Normans conquered England in 1066, they forced their language on the English. All those words were considered dirty because the Normans considered themselves and their language better than the people they conquered.

As a result the original English words evolved into our modern day swears.

[Dirty Dan]

Originally posted by rottie
Do you go around stirring up **** on purpose?

The French are cowards and I am not worried about being not "politically correct" about saying so. The U.S. have saved their sorry asses so many times, how could they possibly have the gaw to turn their backs on us when we need them. I think people in the states have a damn good reason to be pissed at the French. They want all of the benefits of being among such an elite group such as the U.S. and Brittian, but they don't want to have to do any of the work.

-Dirty Dan

[Ihateeveryone]

Originally posted by rottie
THE HISTORY OF 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 an archer to draw his 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 commonly known as "plucking the yew" or, more simply, "pluck yew."

Much to the astonishment 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 "pheasant plucker" -- the person you had to go to for the feathers used on the longbow arrows), the difficult consonant cluster at the beginning has gradually evolved to a labiodental fricative 'F.'
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 because of the pheasant feathers on the arrows that the symbolic gesture is also known as "giving (someone) the bird."

I heard that somewhere before, thought it was pretty funny

[Marciano]

I don't know if anyone subscribes to maxim, but they ran a whole history of the middle finger in one of their issues about 3 years ago, i remember seeing rottie's version, along with some others. if anyone saves the back issues, maybe they can look it up.

[rottie]

Originally posted by Dirty Dan
The French are cowards and I am not worried about being not "politically correct" about saying so. The U.S. have saved their sorry asses so many times, how could they possibly have the gaw to turn their backs on us when we need them. I think people in the states have a damn good reason to be pissed at the French. They want all of the benefits of being among such an elite group such as the U.S. and Brittian, but they don't want to have to do any of the work.

-Dirty Dan

Yeah yeah yeah yeah.. the US has saved thier asses so many times blah blah blah blah.

Along with England, and Russia, and Canada, and Australia, and and and.

Jesus give it up would ya?

France has also saved Americas ass too. Yup thats right Sparky. You must have been taught something about the American War of Independance right?

Remember folks, anyone that doesn't agree with American foriegn policy, at any time, for any reason is the enemy.

I think America is a great country, but some of its people need to start thinking more before they shoot thier mouth off.

[Dirty Dan]

Originally posted by rottie
Yeah yeah yeah yeah.. the US has saved thier asses so many times blah blah blah blah.

Along with England, and Russia, and Canada, and Australia, and and and.

Jesus give it up would ya?

France has also saved Americas ass too. Yup thats right Sparky. You must have been taught something about the American War of Independance right?

Remember folks, anyone that doesn't agree with American foriegn policy, at any time, for any reason is the enemy.

I think America is a great country, but some of its people need to start thinking more before they shoot thier mouth off.

Well, "sparky", I would not go as far as to say "they saved our asses". THey may have assisted us in the war, but they were so late that they almost missed the bloody war. Also, I would not say that one occurance of the helping us once the war was practically already won, makes up for the fact that over 66,000+ Americans have died protecting "French" soil and then we call on them to help us, and they run like cowards.

-Dirty Dan

[rottie]

Originally posted by Dirty Dan
Well, "sparky", I would not go as far as to say "they saved our asses". THey may have assisted us in the war, but they were so late that they almost missed the bloody war. Also, I would not say that one occurance of the helping us once the war was practically already won, makes up for the fact that over 66,000+ Americans have died protecting "French" soil and then we call on them to help us, and they run like cowards.

-Dirty Dan

Really? well someone needs history lessons about thier own damn country AGAIN. Here I'll help ya.

America fought the British Crown and its colonies in North America, allied with France, from 1775 to 1783.

Apr '76, Silas Deane sent to Paris to obtain military supplies and skilled military engineers for the Continental Army.
Jun '76, Hortalez Cie. received million livres from French Covernment, and another million from Spain, via the French Minister.

Feb '77, Duportail, one of the first of many French volunteers, joined the Continental Army.
By Sep. '77, Hortalez Cie. (Beaumarchais) already shipped 5 million livres worth of cargo to America

all in '78;

6 Feb, French-American alliance treaty signed in Paris.
4 May, French treaty recognizing American independence ratified by US Congress.
17 Jun, first naval engagement of the war between French and British.
11 Jul-31 Aug, D'Estaing's unsuccessful naval operations at New York and at Newport.
27 Jun, naval battle off Ile d'Ouessant [Ushant] -- indecisive engagement between Fr. and Br. (La Manche)
7 Sep, Fr. capture Dominica (WI).
14 Sep, Br. capture St. Pierre-et-Miquelon Ils. (N. Atlantic).
1 Oct, Br. capture Pondichery (India).
13 Dec, Br. capture St. Lucia (WI).

'79

13 Dec, Fr. capture St. Louis (Senegal).
1 May, Fr. unsuccessful raid on Jersey Ils. (La Manche).
18 Jun, Fr. capture St. Vincent (WI).
4 Jul, Fr. capture Grenada (WI).
23 Sep-20 Oct, D'Estaing and American unsuccessful siege of Savannah (GA).
23 Sep, Fr. troops at naval battle of Flambourgh Head (La Manche) -- (Bonhomme Richard vs HMS Serapis).

'80

21 Feb-12 May, Fr. troops at unsuccessful defense of Charleston (SC).
17 Apr, 15 & 19 May, Br. and Fr. engage in naval battles off Martinique (WI).
11 Jul, Rochambeau's corps arrived at Newport (RI).


I could go on, but i think you get the point. The French were with you right from the start. Thier blood flowed for you country, and more important supplies, and money.

France never helped Canada anywhere NEAR as much as France helped you guys, and we were happy to send our boys over to die for her. If you feel the Americans that dies over there died for an ungrateful country, then you belittle the very reasons for which they died.

[The Iron Lord]

Would you like some fries with your arse that rottie just handed to you, Dan?

[Blown00Mustang]

I really hope that none of you even 1/64 of the way believed those stories in this thread about where **** and mother****er came from. Esp the "pluck yew" one. Funny story, but come on...

[Dirty Dan]

Originally posted by rottie
Really? well someone needs history lessons about thier own damn country AGAIN. Here I'll help ya.

America fought the British Crown and its colonies in North America, allied with France, from 1775 to 1783.

Apr '76, Silas Deane sent to Paris to obtain military supplies and skilled military engineers for the Continental Army.
Jun '76, Hortalez Cie. received million livres from French Covernment, and another million from Spain, via the French Minister.

Feb '77, Duportail, one of the first of many French volunteers, joined the Continental Army.
By Sep. '77, Hortalez Cie. (Beaumarchais) already shipped 5 million livres worth of cargo to America

all in '78;

6 Feb, French-American alliance treaty signed in Paris.
4 May, French treaty recognizing American independence ratified by US Congress.
17 Jun, first naval engagement of the war between French and British.
11 Jul-31 Aug, D'Estaing's unsuccessful naval operations at New York and at Newport.
27 Jun, naval battle off Ile d'Ouessant [Ushant] -- indecisive engagement between Fr. and Br. (La Manche)
7 Sep, Fr. capture Dominica (WI).
14 Sep, Br. capture St. Pierre-et-Miquelon Ils. (N. Atlantic).
1 Oct, Br. capture Pondichery (India).
13 Dec, Br. capture St. Lucia (WI).

'79

13 Dec, Fr. capture St. Louis (Senegal).
1 May, Fr. unsuccessful raid on Jersey Ils. (La Manche).
18 Jun, Fr. capture St. Vincent (WI).
4 Jul, Fr. capture Grenada (WI).
23 Sep-20 Oct, D'Estaing and American unsuccessful siege of Savannah (GA).
23 Sep, Fr. troops at naval battle of Flambourgh Head (La Manche) -- (Bonhomme Richard vs HMS Serapis).

'80

21 Feb-12 May, Fr. troops at unsuccessful defense of Charleston (SC).
17 Apr, 15 & 19 May, Br. and Fr. engage in naval battles off Martinique (WI).
11 Jul, Rochambeau's corps arrived at Newport (RI).


I could go on, but i think you get the point. The French were with you right from the start. Thier blood flowed for you country, and more important supplies, and money.

France never helped Canada anywhere NEAR as much as France helped you guys, and we were happy to send our boys over to die for her. If you feel the Americans that dies over there died for an ungrateful country, then you belittle the very reasons for which they died.

I still wouldn't say that they saved our asses, Frances contibutions were not the deciding factor in the war. Plus, at that time, were not not in any form of a group such a NATO, or the UN. After all, look at their motives,. France was not in this war because they wanted to help the colonist gain their independance. They were in it simply because they were pissed off because they just got their asses handed to them by England. The U.S. an unestablished country, was able to beat the Brittish, but France a country that had been around alot longer than the colonies, could not. If you think France sending the U.S. a few supplies, was what caused the U.S. to win the war, you are very mistaken.

France never needed to help Canada because no one is going to **** w/ them seeing that they are neighbors of the U.S. Canada is protected and they take that for granted. If the U.S. was not here, every other two-bit country would be attacking it.

I know my ****ing history, and I don't know where you, a **** head Canadian get off challenging me. My point was that France was not te desiding factor in the war and ****ing knew that. Canadians are among the most arrogant hipocriticall people anywhere. well, along w/ France. Canadians alway talk **** about the U.S. but they wouldn't be **** w/ out the U.S. I know what I am talking about, so any time you wish to have a history match, bring it bitch.
-Dirty Dan