Flip a bird?

[andrewwai]

What is ' the fig of Spain'? and its origin. Tks

[Quizmonster]

'Bird', meaning the middle finger, is first recorded in 'Current Slang', published by the University of South Dakota in 1968. The only logical reason I can see for that is the fact that a hand with the middle finger raised might be thought to have a bird-shape...ie the head and neck outstretched like a duck in flight and the 'wings/body' formed by the other four digits.
The 'flip' element was added later to suggest the finger has imparted to it an appropriate up and down movement to simulate the activity it describes! 
Click http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/12/messages/765.html

Once there, there are various blue headings to click on for further information.

[Marsh]

----"A figo for thy friendship!--
The fig of Spain." Henry V, III. 6.

In modern terms "Up yours!", complete with hand gesture.

A longer explanation is at

http://www.sacred-texts.com/sex/wgp/wgp06.htm

[Marsh]

P S It didn't start with Shakespeare but was used by Romans and Greeks.

[Quizmonster]

I have to confess the questioner utterly confused me! I answered the title..."Flip a bird" with a question-mark, assuming that's what he wanted explained. I imagined 'the fig of Spain' element was just his jokey way of saying 'fig(ure) of speech'! (It's got to be 50 years since I last read 'Henry V', so perhaps I may be excused for forgetting the reference?) 

[Marsh]

And  I had never before heard the expression "flip the bird". I was pleased that you explained it.  Incidentally, you have introduced me to some lovely websites.  My Favorites file is bulging.

[Marsh]

..."flip a bird" I mean. Flip a neck!

[Sequim88]

"Flip the bird"
Bird�in this case referring to the middle most finger. In ancient times, prior to toilet paper, a stick with a bit of sponge on the end was used after defecating. Absent a stick the sponge was placed on the longest thing available � the middle finger. Absent a sponge�.messy. In Roman times this was referred to as the �finger of impudence� because displaying it with a flicking motion towards someone was indicative of flipping excrement at them. Later the phrase probably became �flipping the merde� and migrated to English as �flipping the bird�. So the �bird� is not so much the finger itself as the implied projectile.