Anyone know the history of the middle finger?

[KaBudokan]

Just curious.

I saw Titanic the other day, and there's a scene where the girl (Kate Winslet's character) flips off this guy while she's in the elevator. It seemed to be that it was probably a bit anachronistic for an Irish girl in 1912 to be giving someone the middle finger.

So... anyone know how the gesture started? I would have maybe figured she'd have given him the two fingers "British" flip-off gesture...

 

[nateholtrop]

there was a thread on this tho I cant find it...

Nate

 

[Viper GTS]

Pluck yew!

Viper GTS

 

[dennilfloss]

Read on the 100 Years War. Hint: English longbowmen and French knights.

Flesh For fantasy (Billy Idol)

 

[DesignDawg]

Myths, myths, all that pluck yew crap.

Ricky
DesignDawg

 

[Buddhist]

english yeowmen losing there trigger bow finger. Thus, result equals only one middle finger left (minus the pointer finger)
-M.T.O