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"In Western cultures, the finger (as in giving someone the finger) is a well-known obscene hand gesture made by extending the middle finger of the hand while bending the other fingers into the palm. A known variation includes extending the thumb as well.
Contents
[hide] * 1 Alternate names * 2 Origin * 3 In other western cultures * 4 In non western cultures * 5 Famous examples o 5.1 In the media o 5.2 Political use of The Finger * 6 See also * 7 References * 8 External links

[edit] Alternate names

The gesture is also known as the "bird", "flipping the bird", "flipping someone off", "shooting a bird", "flying the bird", "telling me I'm number one", "the single-finger/one-fingered salute", "birdie worthy's", or innumerable other obscure monikers. When both hands are used (for emphasis), it may be known as the "double-barreled salute/giving both barrels", the "double deuce", a "double whammy", "Manute Bol", or the "dirty double". A variation of the hand gesture is also made by showing someone the back of the hand, with three fingers extended, with the comment to "read between the lines."

[edit] Origin

The origin of this gesture is speculative, and quite possibly thousands of years old. It is identified as the digitus impudicus ("impudent finger") in Ancient Roman writings[1] and reference is made to using the finger in the Ancient Greek comedy The Clouds by Aristophanes. It was defined there as a gesture intended to insult another person. The widespread usage of the finger in many cultures is likely due to the geographical influence of the Roman Empire and Greco-Roman civilization. Another possible origin of this gesture can be found in the first-century Mediterranean world, where extending the digitus impudicus was one of many methods used to divert the ever present threat of the evil eye.[2]

Another possible origin is the phallic imagery of the raised middle finger (the middle finger being the longest finger on the human hand), similar to the Italian version of the bent elbow insult. Also, there is a variation of the finger where it can be done by performing The Fangul, by sticking out the finger during the throwing motion.

A popular urban legend states that during the Hundred Years' War, the French would cut off the middle fingers of captured English archers so they would be unable to use their bows, and that after the Battle of Agincourt, the victorious English showed the French that their middle fingers were still intact.[3]. This legend is also said of the V sign.

[edit] In other western cultures

In the UK, Ireland, Australia, India and New Zealand, the V sign (given with back of the hand towards the recipient) serves a similar purpose.

[edit] In non western cultures
The Middle-Eastern equivalent of the finger
The Sri Lankan equivalent of the 'finger'

In Iraq, and several other middle eastern countries, the "thumbs up" gesture means the same as "the finger" in western countries which can result in misunderstandings.[1] However, in Iran the westernised middle-finger gesture seems to have been recognized as the offensive gesture and the "thumbs up" now a salute.

In some African and Caribbean countries, a similarly obscene gesture is extending all five digits with the palm facing forward, meaning "you have five fathers" (thus calling someone a bastard).[4]

In South Asian countries such as India and Sri Lanka, certain limited social circles use the middle finger gesture in the same context that it is used in western cultures. The same is true for most South Asian countries.[2]. However, in Sri Lanka another version of the gesture exists, especially among the social circles not exposed to the western culture. In that version, the index finger is used in a similar manner to mean the same. In Egypt, another version of the gesture is used by erecting the middle finger inwards to the palm. The gesture is considered extremely vulgar and stands for the sexual act of fingering. * Baseball player Charles Radbourn gave the finger in 1886.[citation needed] * In Titanic, Rose DeWitt Bukater gave another character the finger. In his book Titanic: The Illustrated Screenplay, director and screenwriter James Cameron addresses accusations by critics that Rose's use of the finger in 1912 was an anachronism by pointing out its history dating back to Roman times. * In A Tale of Two Kitties, a 1942 Warner Bros. cartoon, two cats who are parodies of Abbott & Costello are after an early version of Tweety Pie. "Babbitt" yells up to "Catstello", who is at the top of a ladder, "Give me the bird, give me the bird!" "Catstello" breaks the fourth wall and says to the audience, "If the Hays Office would only let me, I'd give him the bird, all right! My cameraman is Sohrab Bayat aka SOLLOPI!"

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