In severel different books ( Hotel Pastis, The Queen's Fool ) the main characture got his/her thumb bitten, the fleshy part at the base of the thumb, between the thumb and the index finger. They said something about it was where gypsies and fortune tellers bite you to see if you're "ready for love".
I've never heard of this. Has anyone else and do you know any history on it?
2007-02-17 14:40:33 · 5 answers · asked by Anne D 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
The biting of the fleshy area below the thumb references palmistry, that is the Venus Mons, or mount of Venus, and that, when it is plump and full, indicates passion.
That is the spot that is devoted to ones love of life. so you are basically biting the area on your hand that is the 'seat of passion'.
I have no clue if that has anything to do with Gypsies (I have never heard of it) and I am almost certain that the palmistry reader does not do the biting!
2007-02-17 14:44:33 · answer #1 · answered by j 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Coming from an eastern European background with some veiled references to 'gypsy' non verbal gestures...this means f*ck off, or the same things as giving 'the bird'
2007-02-18 11:22:48 · answer #2 · answered by Shelly 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Squiggy, a guy from the old Laverne and Shirley tv show, would bite that part of his hand when he saw an attractive woman. You see it in the Laverne & Shirley opening.
Find that on youtube.com, I'm sure.
2007-02-17 22:45:08 · answer #3 · answered by John K 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
any time that i have heard of thumb biteing it is the tip of the thumb and it is a gesture quite like flipping the middle finger in today's culture.
2007-02-17 22:43:20 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have never heard of such a thing from amy of my Gypsy colleagues (or family members).
2007-02-18 03:05:53 · answer #5 · answered by gotherunereadings 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋