The Brit 2 fingered sign?

Question

I know it is now used world wide but how did it come about? I don't mean Winston Churchill's Victory sign I mean the one done with the back of the hand foreward.

I.m picking Happy because it was the most definitive answer. The rest of you did well. Be Happy.

Answer 1

During the wars with France in the 14 & 15th C the English long bow archers were the scirge of the battle field,they could bring down cavalry and foot soldiers alike at great distances.
he archers were expected to give up many hours per month to train for their local lord/squire,When captured in battle the French would slice of these two fingers on the right hand and it would then be impossible to pull the twine off the longbow to fire it.The English archers before a battle would show the French the two fingered salute to say "Hey i`ve still got me fingers,you better look out" or something like that (probably more coloufull language) It is a quintesensioanaly English hand sign,Churchill used it as a goad to the Germans,Back of the hand outwards to the Germans and the other way around to show the V sign for victory.

Answer 2

Generally, use of the two-fingered "V-sign," using the index and middle fingers with the palm turned inwards, towards the signer, is limited to Great Britain and its former colonies, e.g. Australia and New Zealand.
One theory of its origin stems from the battle of Agincourt where the French were said to amputate those fingers from the hands of captured English longbowmen, so they could no longer fire arrows at the French troops. Englishmen who still had their hands intact would gesture to the French, using the two fingers in question, as a sign of defiance. It's a nice story that has largely been discounted, however no better theory has been put forward that I can find.
Frankly, in my youth, I thought it was a sign to represent the female pudenda, thus indicating to the receiver of the sign that he had feminine traits, but I have no basis for knowing it to be so.

Answer 3

I don't know how it came about, but I do know that making the "V" sign, not unlike the 60's hippie peace sign, displaying the back of your hand, is the British equivalent of displaying the back of your hand and extending one's middle finger up into the air here in the United States.
Both the Brit 2 fingered sign and the American 1 fingered sign have the same meanings.

Answer 4

The French used to cut off English archers two fingers to prevent them fighting if they escaped. So if they survived a battle, it was an insult to the French to show that they remained intact

Answer 5

The Olympics ought to be a in straight forward terms athletic adventure. regrettably the famous Olympics have been a diploma for political statements. A habit clause has long been a everyday requirement in maximum activities contracts. whether, or not American athletes would be required to sign such contracts maintains to be to be seen.

Answer 6

Just to back up the "archers" theory (which I think is correct), it was common, just before a battle, to goad the other side - rude signs, swearing, name-calling, and so on. It fits perfectly.

Answer 7

Yes, it was to show the French that our archers still had their fingers and I believe it happened after the Battle of Crecy.

Answer 8

I didn't know the one finger sign was American. I thought it was Italian. But then most "Americans" are European Americans.

Answer 9

to show that our archers had not had thier fingers removed, they used to flick the V sign to taunt the French

Answer 10

wot about the 1 finger sign lol