Results 1 to 2 of 2
Thread: History Lesson
-
07-10-2012, 02:55 PM #1
History Lesson
Well, now......here's something I never knew before, and now that I know it, I feel compelled to send it on to my more intelligent friends in the hope that they, too, will feel edified. 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 they 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 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! 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.......
-
Post Thanks / Like - 1 Likesblueeyes liked this post
-
07-10-2012 02:55 PM # ADS
-
07-10-2012, 07:20 PM #2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finger_%28gesture%29
other versions!
Similar Threads
-
Girlology: Lesson 1 [Pic]
By accadacca in forum General DiscussionReplies: 17Last Post: 06-05-2009, 08:51 PM -
Lesson for Tarzan
By savanna3313 in forum JokesReplies: 7Last Post: 03-03-2007, 11:24 AM -
History Lesson
By funintheslots in forum JokesReplies: 3Last Post: 10-25-2006, 04:34 PM -
A Lesson Learned...
By TreeHugger in forum Mountain Biking & CyclingReplies: 14Last Post: 07-23-2006, 02:38 PM -
So I went for my first flying lesson the other day...
By derstuka in forum General DiscussionReplies: 1Last Post: 01-06-2006, 09:05 AM
Visitors found this page by searching for:
Outdoor Forum