As an Anglo-American, I can attest that Jim is absolutely correct. The
two-fingered salute is also known as the "sailor's farewell". Also, Winston
Churchill was known to give the two fingered salute, with both orientations
of the palm, but in his case it was to symbolize V for Victory.
-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Hill <Jim_Hill@chsra.wisc.edu>
To: Triumph List <triumphs@autox.team.net>
Date: Tuesday, February 23, 1999 2:36 PM
Subject: RE: Humor non LBC but English boundary
>
>
>Brian Johnson wrote:
>
>> Yep Andy's correct - we stick two fingers in the air . . .
>> The French knights hadsent a message saying that they
>> would cut off the first two fingers of every archer's hand
>> to stop them pulling the bow. The English stuck their fingers in the
>air
>> to show the French that they still had them.
>
>A minor point of clarification, while we're off the subject:
>
>The British (English?) "Two-Finger Archer's Salute" is performed with the
>thumb and remaining fingers facing the person giving the salute - the same
>hand position as the American "One-Finger Salute". If I'm not mistaken, the
>Two-Finger salute given with the thumb and remaining fingers facing the
>object of the salute is, on both sides of the pond, recognized as the Peace
>Sign.
>
>This fine (and quite possibly incorrect) point of digital nuance is brought
>to you by:
>
> Jim Hill
>SpyderWeb Vintage Racing
> Madison WI
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