Many readers have alerted me to the following entry in the OED under “fig”:

“A contemptuous gesture which consisted in thrusting the thumb between two

of the closed fingers or into the mouth. Also, fig of Spain, and to give (a

person) the fig.”

There seem to be many instances of this usage in Shakespeare. The servants

in Romeo & Juliet, for example:

GREGORY—I will frown as I pass by, and let them take it as they list.

SAMPSON—Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them; which is a

disgrace to them, if they bear it.

Enter ABRAHAM and BALTHASAR

ABRAHAM—Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?

SAMPSON—I do bite my thumb, sir.

ABRAHAM—Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?

etc. etc.