What is the origin of the Middle finger obscene gesture?

Answer 1

The middle finger gesture originated from medieval times. English bowmen had their middle fingers cut off by the French if captured because that was the finger they used to draw the long bow. It was a taunt from all those who survived to show they still had their middle fingers.

Answer 2

In the middle ages archers needed their middle fingers to shoot their arrows. When enemies captured the archers they would cut off their middle finger so if they escaped they couldn't be an archer anymore. So when archers w/ their middle fingers saw the enemy they would wave their middle finger in the air to taunt them

Answer 3

"It is a result of the Hundred Years War between England and France from 1337-1453 . The English longbow was so feared by the French that anytime they captured an English bowman they would cut his middle finger off so they would be unable to use a bow ever again. After a battle the English would hold up their middle finger to show the French they would be able to continue fighting which was a sort of medieval F you."

The above answer is not only false (and ridiculous), it's copied from an equally ridiculous email. Do not get your information from mass emails. The middle finger was insulting in ancient Rome, and ancient Greece before that. The Romans referred to the middle finger as 'digitus impudicus' (insulting finger) and the Greeks used it in theatre. The English/French claim is an urban myth that never happened. French warriors did not capture English bowmen to cut off their fingers.

Answer 4

In the wars between the English and French in the Middle Ages the English longbow men were greatly feared by the French. The obscene hand sign that the English bowmen used to do to the French was hold up their index finger and middle finger in (what looks like a reverse peace sign now). It symbolised that they still had their two useful fingers to rain down arrows on the French ranks. If the French caught them they would chop these fingers off thus disabling the archers. This two fingered salute is still very much in use today in the U.K. , Aus, and NZ and means F.O. Or F.Y. The origins of the middle finger may also have come from the same place.