[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > In a message dated 10/24/2007 2:32:07 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, > [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > We have the V sign, which is an invitation to go forth and multiply, > but using different words, and the Victory / Peace sign. Winston > Churchill was apparently unaware of the difference at the start of the > second World War, and used them interchangeably until better informed. > > "Winston Churchill took up the Victory campaign enthusiastically, and > made a V sign with his fingers whenever a camera was pointed at him, > his palm facing in both directions. This dismayed his private > secretary, John Colville. In September 1941, Colville wrote in his > diary, 'The PM will give the V-sign with two fingers in spite of > representations repeatedly made to him that this gesture has quite > another significance.' > > Churchill was eventually persuaded to use only the palm forwards > gesture." > > http://www.icons.org.uk/theicons/collection/the-v-sign/biography/v-for > -victory > > Bob > > ============ > So what did the V sign, back side of the hand out, used to mean?
Possibly apochryphally, it was meant to be a sign from English archers to their enemies (usually a French army) that they still had their two "loosing" fingers, the ones that hold the bowstring and arrow for firing. It was, apparently, the custom of said enemies to remove those fingers if the archers were captured. Over the centuries, it transmogrified in meaning to become something that signified "go forth and multiply". > > I am missing something here. I remember the cuckold sign, cuckoldry being > popular in Shakespeare, as being something else. > > Marnie aka Doe :-) > > --------------------------------------------- > Warning: I am now filtering my email, so you may be censored. > > > > > ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com > -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
