"False claim: “Middle finger” gesture derives from English" Topic

….soldiers at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415

"A widely shared image on social media purportedly explains the historic origins of the "middle finger", considered an offensive gesture in Western culture. The image makes the claim that the gesture derives from English soldiers at the Battle of Agincourt, France in 1415. This claim is false.

The post alleges that the French had planned to cut off the middle fingers of all captured English soldiers, to inhibit them from drawing their longbows in future battles. It goes on to state that after an unexpected victory, the English soldiers mocked the defeated French troops by waving their middle fingers ( here )…"

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Armand

Thought it was the draw fingers – hence the V sign not as a "V for victory" but more a "V for Fbleeeepbleepybleepbleep"

Never heard of that claim, it was always sticking the two fingers up, the single finger was never much of a UK thing,

Tally Ho!

Some poor soul is very confused.

The myth related to the two-fingered "up yours" gesture but it's just folklore.

If you could be bothered, you'd chop off all the fingers or simply go for the whole hand but it was probably easier just to knock the prisoner over the head.

"Pluck yew" – hilarious.

The two-fingered gesture could as easily refer to the horns that were supposed to grow from the temples of a cuckold. As such, the gesture would mean something like "and everyone else has done your old lady, too".

Thanks

Armand