At the risk of sounding like I'm quibbling (allright, I really am
quibbling!), the history of the "finger salute" and the associated
term "bird" are deeper and broader than the posting below implies.
Quibble 1: The negative implications of the middle finger go back to
ancient times. According to Harper's Latin Dictionary (1879), in
Latin the middle finger was referred to as "digitus impudicus" or
"digitus infamis" meaning shameful, impudent or infamous. The Random
House Historical dictionary of American Slang supports this origin.
No reason for the association is given, but it is apparently quite
old.
Quibble 2: While the Welsh longbow did indeed destroy the flower of
chivalry in the Hundred Years War, it was at the battle of Poitiers
(about 1350, or 65 years before Agincourt) where a trapped and
outnumbered British force used longbows to surprise and decimate
their French opponents, in the process taking the King of France
prisoner. Barbara Tuchman's "A distant mirror: a history of the 14th
century" contains an excellent description of the longbow factor,
the battle of Poitiers, and its consequences.
Quibble 3: The term "bird" (according to the Random House slang
dictionary) is an extremely broad slang term, and can be applied to a
number of negative actions from the infamous finger to a Bronx cheer
or raspberry to a turncoat. It seems a bit narrow to ascribe it
solely to shooting an arrow (although that connotation does have some
logic).
Well, I'll quibble off into the sunset now (aren't you glad you don't
live with me?).
Paul D. Healey
William Mitchell College of Law Library
phealey@wmitchell.edu
>
> Historical facts: A dispute between England and France arose out of
> a claim to the French throne. To settle the claim, the Hundred
> Years' War began in 1337 CE(Common Era) and ended in 1453 CE.
> English King, Henry V took his armies to France in 1415 CE to settle
> the dispute. On, October 25, 1415, in Agincourt, France one of
> histories greatest battles took place. The French outnumbered the
> English 4 to 1. The French had 25,000 men, including 15,000 mounted
> knights. The French army was made up of men from all over the
> country and were considered to have a motley nature. They were
> known to taunt their foes. One noted taunt was to extend their
> backsides to their enemy. Even though it was done at a great cost
> to life (their own). The English armies were equipped with their
> legendary "Welsh longbow". The battle lasted an hour and a half,
> leaving 500 English dead and over 10,000 French dead. Henry V was
> victorious and the myth of the invincible knight shattered.
>
> Myth: The French commanders at Agincourt, seeing how they
> outnumbered the English, decreeded that upon victory, all the
> English bowman would have their middle fingers cut off. This would
> humiliate them and make certain that they never could draw back
> their longbows again. When the English defeated the French, the
> victors waved their middle fingers at their enemies and stated,
> "See, we can still pluck yew".
>
> Fact: The renowned "Welsh longbow" was made from the native English
> "Yew" tree. The drawing of the longbow was thus called, "plucking
> yew".
>
> Fact: The feathers used on the longbow's arrows came from pheasants.
>
> Myth: Since the arrow's feathers originated from a bird, the letting
> loose of an arrow was called, "giving the bird" :>)
>
> At that my friends and colleagues are the origins of "The middle
> finger salute".
>
> "Believe it or not" ;>)
>
> Again, thank you, one and all,
> Eric
>
> *************************************************************** Eric
> M. Kaufman, Senior Reference Librarian New York County Lawyers'
> Association 14 Vesey Street New York, N.Y. 10007 Tel#: (212)
> 267-6646, ext. 204 Fax#: (212) 791-6437 E-mail:
> ekaufman2@mindspring.com
>
> "Any opinions expressed are my own and not those of NYCLA"
> ***************************************************************
>
Paul D. Healey, M.A.(LIS), J.D.
Reference/Electronic Services Librarian
Warren E. Burger Library
William Mitchell College of Law
871 Summit Ave. St. Paul, MN 55105
Phone: 612.290.6306 Fax: 612.290.6318
e-mail: phealey@wmitchell.edu
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Wed Nov 14 2007 - 20:49:34 PST