Subject: Fw: Interesting bit of trivia.

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----- Original Message -----
From: Alan.Watson
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;
Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2003 10:41 PM
Subject: Fw: Interesting bit of trivia.

History About The Middle Finger!
Isn't history more fun when you know something about it?

_

/'_/)

,/_ /

/ /

/'_'/' '/'__'/','/'

/'/ / / / /_

('( ' ' _ >

|

' /

'' _./'

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!"

Since 'pluck yew' is rather difficult to say, the difficult consonant cluster at the beginning has gradually changed to a labiodental fricative 'F', and 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 w/ the longbow that the symbolic gesture is known as "giving the bird."

And yew thought yew knew everything

Cheers!

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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message -----
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black">From: <A
title=ala-@shaw.ca href="mailto:alan.w-@shaw.ca">Alan.Watson</A>
</DIV>
<DIV>To: <A title=Undisclosed-Recipient:;
href="mailto:Undisclosed-Recipient:;">Undisclosed-Recipient:;</A> </DIV>
<DIV>Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2003 10:41 PM</DIV>
<DIV>Subject: Fw: Interesting bit of trivia.</DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>History About The Middle Finger!<o:p></o:p></DIV>
<DIV>
Isn't history
more fun when you know something about it?<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>

_<o:p></o:p>
 /'_/)<o:p></o:p>

,/_
/<o:p></o:p>

/
/<o:p></o:p>

/'_'/'
'/'__'/','/'<o:p></o:p>

/'/ / / / /_<o:p></o:p>

('( ' ' _ ><o:p></o:p>


|<o:p></o:p>


'
/<o:p></o:p>

'' 
_./'<o:p></o:p>


<o:p></o:p>


<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
Giving the
Finger<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
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.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
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!"<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
Since 'pluck
yew' is rather difficult to say, the difficult consonant cluster at the
beginning has gradually changed to a labiodental fricative 'F', and thus the
words often used in conjunction with the one-finger-salute are mistakenly
thought to have something to do with an intimate
encounter.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
It is also
because of the pheasant feathers on the arrows used w/ the longbow that the
symbolic gesture is known as "giving the
bird."<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
And yew thought
yew knew everything<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
<DIV>
Cheers!<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p><o:p> </o:p>
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border=0><o:p></o:p></DIV></DIV>
 
<DIV> </DIV></BODY></HTML>

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Subject: Fw: Interesting bit of trivia.

Author: edward walton

Date: Jul 22, 2003, 11:41 PM

Post ID: 1713875813

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