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:
“On the middle of that quiet floor
sits a fleet of small black ships,
square-rigged, sails furled, motionless,
their spars like burned matchsticks.”
—Elizabeth Bishop (1911–1979)
“I asked you to play. If you can’t think of anything better, play a chromatic five finger exercise. But spare me your suburban shopgirl trash.”
—Muriel Box (b. 1905)