The middle finger, long finger, or tall finger is the third digit of the human hand, located between the index finger and the ring finger. It is usually the longest finger. It is also called the third finger, digitus medius, digitus tertius, or digitus III in anatomy.
In Western countries, extending the middle finger (either on its own, or along with the index finger in the United Kingdom) is an offensive and obscene gesture, colloquially known as "flipping the bird", "flipping someone off", or simply "giving the finger". The gesture is usually used as a form of insult to the person it is directed to.
Famous quotes containing the words middle and/or finger:
“The test of an adventure is that when you’re in the middle of it, you say to yourself, “Oh, now I’ve got myself into an awful mess; I wish I were sitting quietly at home.” And the sign that something’s wrong with you is when you sit quietly at home wishing you were out having lots of adventure.”
—Thornton Wilder (1897–1975)
“the jeweled prize
always
at our finger tips.
We will it so
and so it is
past all accident.”
—William Carlos Williams (1883–1963)