I waz doin sum research into archery when i discovered a law stating that every englishman had 2 practise for 2 hours a week with a longbow. I think this was because of the war with the french. I also found out that the
"F-off" finger gesteur came from when the french cut off the index and for finger of english men to stopp them usiing a bow. I was really just wonderin if that law was still in effect if not enforced and if anyone knew if that was the true origin of the gesteur.

Yes, that is the origin of said gesture.  The English archers would wave their two fingers at the French, in defiance, essentially to say, ha, we can still kill you.
    That law is not still in effect, of course, and it is in fact no longer legal even to hunt with the bow in England (although it is legal in Scotland, and Northern Ireland, countries part of the Union but not exactly renowned for their archery.)  There are still some famous archery clubs and societies in England, including the Toxophilite Society, and the army has one regiment (solely ceremonial I believe) that is armed with bows, although they are Scottish.
The Hundred Years War was a very interesting conflict, in that it was basically the first act in a series of English wars with France and her allies that ended in 1815, really.

No way!   Now that IS interesting!   I really hadn't thought of the origin of that phrase and the middle finger...... 8)

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That is indeed correct.  The American middle finger came about in Boston just before the revolution, as a symbol of defiance; those who supported the revolution would show simply the middle finger, those who didn't would use the normal English gesture.
That is most interesting.  Seems we have a lot to thank the Hundred Years War for, culture wise.

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Pluck yew? C'mon, that sounds really far fetched... Especially considering that the word in question comes from the old German word "to hit" and not a mispronouciation of the modern English "pluck."

I was always told that the f word stood for "For unlawful carnal knowlge"  and F.U.C.K was refered to the peeping toms.

None of these origins are 'proven' and pluck yew is daft IMHO. As a general rule, there are no acronyms more than about a hundred years old.

But flaming pigs - those are bloody real!

Pat

And Leeds United - are they still playing football? I thought they had stopped. Not seen them in the premiership table recently.


Man walks up to the Elland Road turnstyle, gives the guy £20.00 and says 'two please'. Guy says 'Sure, do you want midfielders or defenders?'


Pat

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

It's an urban legend.