English

edit

Etymology

edit

From Middle English myddel fyngir. By surface analysis, middle +‎ finger.

Pronunciation

edit
  This entry needs pronunciation information. If you are familiar with the IPA or enPR then please add some!

Noun

edit

middle finger (plural middle fingers)

  1. The finger between the forefinger and the ring finger.
    Synonyms: (vulgar slang) fuck finger, long finger, (dated) medius, mid-finger, (colloquial) tall man
  2. An obscene gesture directed towards another as an insult, made by sticking up the middle finger of a hand.
    Synonyms: the finger, (Philippines) dirty finger
    • 2018 February 4, Jason Silverstein, “Giving Middle Finger to Police Is a First Amendment Right, Man Argues in Lawsuit Over Ticket”, in Newsweek:
      An Indiana man argues in a federal lawsuit filed last week that he had a First Amendment right to give the middle finger to a state trooper, and that his free speech was violated when the gesture earned him a ticket.
  3. (figurative) An insult directed at someone.
    • 2007, Dominique Paul, The Possibility of Fireflies, page 62:
      Her whole way of being is a big middle finger to the other guy.
    • 2023 October 24, “Colorado judge says company acted "maliciously and in bad faith" in coin stunt”, in CBS News[1]:
      Beem called the tactic [paying US$23500 settlement in coins] "petty and a grand waste of time" and said the coin delivery was "a symbolic middle finger."

Translations

edit

See also

edit