History Lesson - United Bimmer Community

**c1apton** · 09-07-2006, 09:47 PM

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!

witeshark · 09-07-2006, 10:52 PM

That's totally amazing!

Thanks!

**bakaroo** · 09-07-2006, 10:52 PM

LOL. That was great.

**Dudesky** · 09-08-2006, 04:45 AM

What I wanna know is how the 'f' word eventually got associated with sexual intercourse . . that's the part no one knows

**celsdogg** · 09-08-2006, 07:30 AM

ya learn something new every day!

i think everything relates to sex, i know some people that can relate the most innnocent things to it!

**dinan540** · 09-08-2006, 08:52 AM

c1, you never seem to surprise with all of your knowledge of random stuff. I feel quite educated to start my day.

**Mercenary(FH)** · 09-08-2006, 03:27 PM

the f word was used back in medival times, when F.U.C.K was labeled on peoples doors, meaning that the king (or higher power) had given permission for sexual intercourse
Fornicating Under C of the King
F.U.C.K

I thik back in those times with pvoerty famine overpopulation etc, having sex had to be like approved

**celsdogg** · 09-08-2006, 04:02 PM

c = consent

i have heard this one before too.

**Chris** · 09-08-2006, 04:54 PM

Mercenary is is almost right there. He got the history right, but the proper acronym is

F ullfilling
U nlawful
C arnal
K nowledge

**Cartony** · 09-08-2006, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dudesky

What I wanna know is how the 'f' word eventually got associated with sexual intercourse . . that's the part no one knows

Got something for you, you might laugh

**Cartony** · 09-08-2006, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dudesky

What I wanna know is how the 'f' word eventually got associated with sexual intercourse . . that's the part no one knows

This might clear up a few things.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuck#Early_usage

**celsdogg** · 09-08-2006, 10:30 PM

^^^ omigod, i cant believe there is a wiki for it.

witeshark · 09-08-2006, 11:20 PM

Neat read

**jms** · 09-12-2006, 11:10 AM

I never thought to look it up in wikipedia, i guess there really is a wiki for everything