Earlier in my childhood days(perhaps when I was in 6th), my History professor tried her best to convince me that History was worth knowing but failed in her attempt :P Today I finally have realized the importance of History and believe it or not History sounded quite amazing and interesting when I came across an article about "pluck yew".
Today, showing middle finger is a common gesture even to say hello like one of my friend does. Well the history behind Middle Finger is what "pluck yew" is all about. I feel compelled to write about it in my space.
Before the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, the French, anticipating victory over the English, proposed to cut off the middle finger of all the captured English soldiers. Without middle finger it would be impossible to draw the renowned English longbow and therefore they would be incapable of fighting in future. The famous English longbow was made of the native English Yew tree, and the act of drawing longbow was known as 'plucking the yew' or 'pluck yew'. Since 'pluck yew' is rather difficult to say, the difficult consonant cluster in the beginning has gradually changed to a labiodentals fricative "F" and thus the word is often used in conjunction with the one-finger-salute! It is also because of the pheasant feathers on the arrows used with longbow that the symbolic gesture is known as 'giving the bird'. It is still an appropriate salute to the French today.
Isn't it amazing to know "pluck yew" is what the middle finger gesture means.. And yew thought yew knew all about 'plucking' !! :D
No comments:
Post a Comment