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. English soldiers,

therefore, would be incapable of fighting in the

future.

This famous weapon was made of the native English Yew

tree, and the act of drawing the long bow 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,

All the while shouting,

See, we can still "Pluck Yew!""

"Pluck Yew!"

Since 'pluck yew' is rather difficult to say, the

difficult consonant cluster at the beginning has

gradually changed to a labiodental fricative 'F'(Yes,

you can look it up)

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 also because of the pheasant feathers on the

arrows used with the longbow that the symbolic gesture

is known as "Giving the bird".

And *yew* thought yew knew everything!!??

Oh yes, The French

River

SALUTE!!!!

Quite well reported except for the American alterations! The English Archers used TWO fingers to draw the bow and this is what the French used to amputate when captured. Thus the famous V sign with Two Fingers passed into history- that funny one-fingered obscene gesture is an American invention that has begun to be adopted in the UK mainly by younger people not knowing any better! The good old English two fingered V sign saying **** off! remains useful for those of us keen to preserve English (not British) Tradition.

Cheers

Quillman

UK