Does anyone know the true origin of the "middle finger salute"?

Answer 1

The origin of this gesture is highly speculative, but is quite possibly thousands of years old. It is identified as the digitus impudicus ("impudent finger") in Ancient Roman writings[1] and reference is made to using the finger in the Ancient Greek comedy The Clouds by Aristophanes. It was defined there as a gesture intended to insult another. The widespread usage of the finger in many cultures is likely due to the geographical influence of the Roman Empire and Greco-Roman civilization. Another possible origin of this gesture can be found in the first-century Mediterranean world, where extending the digitus impudicus was one of many methods used to divert the ever present threat of the evil eye.[2]

There is a popular story about English bowmen waving fingers at the French knights who did not manage to cut them off during the Hundred Years' War. However, this is a confusion with the origins of the V sign, which are themselves in question.[3]

Another possible origin is the phallic imagery of the raised middle finger (the middle finger being the longest finger on the human hand), similar to the Italian version of the bent elbow insult. Also, there is a variation of the finger where it can be done by performing The Fangul, by sticking out the finger during the throwing motion.

Answer 2

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 to draw the 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
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! "PLUCK
YEW!"

Answer 3

During the struggles to conquer the Scots, the English would cut off the middle finger of Scotsmen to make it difficult for them to shoot a bow. Scotsmen would present their middle fingers from across the battlefield to prove they have never been captured.

Answer 4

Its from the comparable term however the tale is faulty. They used to decrease of the 1st and 2d finger off the squaddies in the event that they committed a minor crime (alongside with stealing from yet another soldier). consequently it grew to enhance into an illustration to others that they weren't dependable to those around them. and that's the place the flippin' the chicken and the V sign comes from. : )

Answer 5

I'm not sure but I thought it was from the longbowmen from in the fifteenth century England. They used the middle finger to pull back the bow, if they were captured they would get their middle finger cut off so they couldn't shoot arrows anymore.

I'm not sure if that's what you want but I hope it helped!

Answer 6

Nobody knows for sure. This gesture has been around for thousands of years. There are lots of suggested reasons, but nobody really knows for sure.

Answer 7

http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a980904.html

Answer 8

F U! lol! :P

Answer 9

i want to **** you