Morris has said that the middle finger we know today – the digit hoisted high in the air, other fingers bending to its will – represents a penis and testicles. “It is saying, this is a ...

Proudly displaying a middle finger 2,500 years ago was usually meant as a joke. Today, “flipping the bird” is considered so vulgar that it’s frequently blurred in media.

The middle finger has since become a frequently used emoji, an unintentional guest during a Super Bowl halftime show, a surprise live sign-off on the BBC and a crude gesture wielded by angry ...