Two fingers up!!

[maria1970]

Where does the 'V' sign originate from?

 

[stoo_pid]

I think it was around the time of the Battle of Agincourt.  If the French captured any English archers they would either cut those two fingers off or slice their hand between the fingers, so that they wouldn't be able to fire arrows again.  When the English went into battle they would stick their two fingers up to show they could still use their bows.

[maria1970]

Thank you so much for that.

[calleach]

The English archers were offered a payment before the battle if they would agree to amputation of their bow draw fingers. None of them took up the offer and on the day of battle demontrated defiance by the 2 fingered salute

[smorodina]

But once again snopes casts considerable doubt on this explanation:

 

http://www.snopes.com/language/apocryph/pluckyew.htm

 

 

[cheyenne]

im sure it was in fact the english who cut of the french soldiers 2 fingers ,and would then give them the V sign.

[TariqE]

Don't think so Vinny.   After all it was the English longbowmen that were Englands greatest soldiers of the time

[New Forester]

Tariq -- I seem to remember hearing that the archers at Agincourt were actually mainly Welsh, not English.  Typical English, claiming the credit again.

[cheyenne]

hi new forester.i dont know if you do come from the newforest but if you do .can you name the hotel pub thats run by a french guy,its got a dolly car sticking out of one of the walls.me and my brother went in there a couple of years ago and we just cant remember the name,its a magic place for a drink.its in brockenhurst?

[redshoot]

new forester ,what a load of rot!

[Dagman]

What do you mean calleach the archers offered payment by who??? "Ere cut off yer fingers an' I'll give yer a groat!"  "Er yeah ok!" doesn't make sense 2 me!