I believe Michael Quinion, a contributor to the OED, addresses that erroneous etymology in his book "Port Out, Starboard Home*".
He discusses the origins of the word on his Web site, www.worldwidewords.org:
http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-fuc1.htm
Quinion wrote about that entry: *"[This article is one of those in my book on folk etymology, Port Out, Starboard Home (available in the USA under the title Ballyhoo, Buckaroo, and Spuds).]"
And let's not start the "whole nine yards" discussion again, until everybody's read his summary of the research into THAT phrase.
Gwyn Alcock
(Having an incipient Grumpy Old Fart day.)
Riverside, Calif.
----- Original Message ----
From: Ron May <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 12:05:08 PM
Subject: Re: question re "happy face" pins
Sister Mary brings up yet another piece of American mythology that I throw
out on the table of discussion. Since the word "_F*^@k_ (mailto:F*^@k) " seems
to be engraved in the minds and archives of America, does anyone know for
certain the source of the word? One person told me that 17th century court
records documented a certain class of crimes as "for unlawful carnal knowledge"
and the lazy record keepers simply wrote the first letter or each word for
repeat offenses. Does anyone know for sure? I also believe American soldiers
during WW II painted the slogan on the walls of former German barracks in
captured towns.
Ron May
Legacy 106, Inc.
In a message dated 10/22/2008 8:38:11 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
From what I know about 'flippimg someone the bird'...is that during a war in
which guns still needed to be fired using gun powder, I believe it is, a very
'resourceful' group of soldiers began to chop off the middle finger of their
captives, thusly disabling the man from shooting his weapon forever...when
one
captive managed to escape, as he fled, he lifted up his middle finger to show
his would be captors that he had managed to get away with his
'firing/trigger'
finger in tact...hence, F*^@K You, I managed to get away with my finger!
Sr. Mary....so full of useful information! lol
--
It is within the boundaries of love that you discover life. Enjoy it!
Quoting "Robert L. Schuyler" <[log in to unmask]>:
> Although I am, right now excavating a 20th century site, this
> discussion seems to be drifting a bit. But it is very fascinating so
> here goes. As we drove back from the site last week we got into a
> discussion of where the phrase "to give someone the bird" or
> "flipping the bird" comes from rather than saying just ---- you. It
> must be as old as the "happy face", much older, and probably does not
> descend from the Peace Symbol. We do, by the way, have a metal Peace
> Symbol on the Penn campus from the 1960s ("Above Ground
> Archaeology"), the only thing the Central Administration would allow
> the Anti-War Movement.
>
> Back to the archaeology of words and phrases - What bird ??
>
> Bob Schuyler
>
>
> At 08:27 AM 10/22/2008, you wrote:
> >I think the peace symbol is an adaptation of signal corps flags
> >(semaphore letters) for N and D - nuclear disarmament. It was the symbol
> >of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
> >
> >http://www.cnduk.org/index.php/information/info-sheets/the-cnd-logo.html
> >
> >
> >Daniel B. Davis
> >Archaeologist Coordinator
> >Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
> >Division of Environmental Analysis
> >200 Mero Street
> >Frankfort, KY 40622
> >(502) 564-7250
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ron
> >May
> >Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 4:26 AM
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Re: question re "happy face" pins
> >
> >The so-called Peace Sign is actually a Norse Rune adopted by the
> >anti-nuclear movement in the late 1950s. I recall seeing a group of
> >protestors standing
> >outside General Atomic in San Diego in 1958 and the signs had that
> >symbol.
> >Over time, the Rune shifted to protest war and by the 1960s it became
> >the Peace
> >symbol.
> >
> >Ron May
> >Legacy 106, Inc.
> >
> >
> >In a message dated 10/21/2008 9:38:03 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
> >[log in to unmask] writes:
> >
> >Happy Faces and "Peace Signs" were both common while I was in the army
> >in
> >Germany in early 1969 and more so while stationed at Ft. Bliss in late
> >1969
> >and early 1970.* * I remember "peace signs" from the army in 1968 and
> >before
> >I was drafted (in 1968) back in 1967.
> >
> >:-)
> >
> >
> >
> >On Tue, Oct 21, 2008 at 4:16 PM, Cami McCraw <[log in to unmask]>
> >wrote:
> >
> > > Hi Matthew,
> > > -Also building on what Ron May just posted, I really think it came
> >around
> > > 1970. I know for sure I had never heard of it in elementary school,
> >but it
> > > was the 'in-thing' at some point in 6th grade, (1970-71).
> > > Now, maybe it was 'invented' before that, but just became popular at
> >least
> > > where I was in 1970. Back then with no internet and limited
> >television,
> >fads
> > > took a little bit longer to spread. (I'm not an archaeologist BUT we
> >are
> > > radio/TV/editing folks.)
> > > By the time I entered high school ('73), we were also beginning to
> >see
> > > these same smiley faces in various colors instead of only yellow.
> >(But of
> > > course those were never as popular as the yellow!)
> > > I do think it was very much tied in with the Nixon era, and wasn't
> >Nixon
> > > always flashing the 'Peace' sign on television? So yes, the smiley
> >face was
> > > tied in to 'Peace & Love and general happiness'. I believe the
> >'flower
> > > power' stuff may have started in the late-60s, so just before the
> >smiley
> > > faces. (But you are right- not much difference.)
> > > If anyone ever has a chance to see old TV reruns of 'The Wonder
> >Years',
> > > you'll get an accurate window into the fads of those times and even
> >the
> > > political ties, especially if you pay attention to the small details
> >in the
> > > show. (Folks my age won't need that, but for younger listmembers it
> >may be
> > > helpful.)
> > > -Cami
> > > http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/NewChronology/
> > > http://stretchproductions.com/RohlProducts.html
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Matthew Tomaso"
> ><[log in to unmask]>
> > > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > > Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 3:27 PM
> > > Subject: Re: question re "happy face" pins
> > >
> > >
> > > I remember them from the early 70s as well. I was never quite sure
> > >> whether to symbolically associate them with flower power or the
> >'don't
> >worry
> > >> be happy' rhetoric of the Johnson and Nixon Administrations.
> >Perhaps
> >there
> > >> isn't much difference.
> > >>
> > >> Matthew S. Tomaso, M. A., RPA
> > >> Senior Archaeologist and Project Manager
> > >> Cultural Resource Consulting Group
> > >> O: 732-247-8880 x-30
> > >> Cell: 908-875-0345
> > >>
> > >
> >
> >
> >--
> >Smoke Pfeiffer
> >
> >Remember: When seconds count, the police are only minutes away!
> >
> >
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