When we think about the 10 common hand gestures we use every day, we often assume their meanings have always been what they are now. Yet, a deep dive into body‑language studies shows that many of these motions started out with very different, sometimes scandalous, connotations. Below we rank ten of the most recognizable hand signals, uncovering the surprising stories behind each.

10 Common Hand Gestures Explained

10 Middle Finger

The notorious middle finger is universally recognized as one of the most offensive signs in modern culture, conveying everything from a blunt “go away” to an explicit vulgarity. However, when it first appeared in ancient Greece, it bore a very different meaning. The Greeks called it katapygon, a term used to mock a man who had been penetrated during homosexual activity.

Later, the Romans borrowed the gesture, labeling it digitus impudicus – literally “shameless or indecent finger.” By the 1700s, the gesture evolved to represent sexual intercourse, with the upright digit symbolizing a penis and the adjacent fingers standing in for testicles.

Italian immigrants brought the gesture to the United States in the 1800s, where it solidified into the modern insult we know today. It quickly supplanted shouting as a quick, visual way to express displeasure toward another person.

9 Salute

The origins of the salute are a bit murky. One hypothesis suggests that ancient Roman soldiers raised their hands in greeting, though no concrete evidence backs this claim. Another theory points to medieval knights who lifted their visors with a hand to signal friendliness, yet this too is disputed.

A more reliable account credits British soldiers. Before the 18th century, soldiers would remove their hats to acknowledge higher‑ranking officers. When elaborate hats became fashionable, the gesture shifted to a brisk slap of the brim, a quicker alternative to hat‑removal. The British army eventually formalized this motion into the salute we recognize today.

Interestingly, the U.S. military salutes with the palm down, whereas the British keep the palm outward. This distinction traces back to the British Navy, which adopted a palm‑down salute because sailors often had dirty hands, making a palm‑up gesture impractical.

8 Handshake

The handshake is arguably the most ubiquitous hand gesture worldwide. Its exact birthplace is debated, but many scholars agree it dates back centuries to a time when men routinely carried weapons.

In close‑quarters encounters, two men would clasp right hands to prove they weren’t concealing blades. The up‑and‑down motion we still use today helped dislodge any hidden arms, turning a simple greeting into a safety check.

Another plausible origin links the handshake to oath‑taking. A ninth‑century BC relief depicts King Shalmaneser III of Assyria sealing an alliance with King Baba‑lam of Babylon by shaking hands, suggesting the gesture once symbolized formal agreements.

The Quakers popularized the handshake in the 17th century as a sign of equality, preferring it over bowing or hat‑removal, which they felt implied hierarchy.

7 Crossed Fingers

Crossed fingers serve a dual purpose: they’re a classic luck‑bringing sign and, paradoxically, a covert way to indicate a lie or a planned back‑track on a promise. Their origins are contested, reflecting this split personality.

One school of thought places the gesture in pre‑Christian Europe, a time steeped in superstition. People believed that benevolent spirits dwelled at the intersection of crossed lines; by forming a single cross with their index fingers, they hoped to attract those spirits’ favor.

Another narrative ties the sign to early Christianity. Persecuted believers allegedly used the crossed‑finger configuration—each forming an “L” with thumb and index finger and then interlocking them—to secretly signal one another while avoiding detection.

Regardless of its true birth, the gesture gained widespread popularity during the 14th century Hundred Years’ War. Soldiers would cross their fingers for luck and protection, finding the two‑finger cross the only feasible way to make the sign while gripping weapons.

The lying connotation stems from early Christians who, when forced to deny their faith, would cross their fingers to invoke divine protection from punishment, effectively using the gesture as a shield against accusations.

6 Sign of the Horns

The “sign of the horns” is a versatile hand symbol formed by extending the index and pinky while folding the middle and ring fingers, thumb holding them down. In Italy, when the horns point downward, the gesture wards off bad luck and the evil eye, known there as the corna. Conversely, if directed at a person and swiveled, it becomes an insult implying cuckoldry.

Rock ’n roll embraced the sign in the 1970s. It first appeared on the cover of Coven’s album and later on The Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine.” Ronnie James Dio popularized it in heavy metal, claiming he learned it from his Italian grandmother as a protective talisman against the evil eye. The gesture quickly became a staple of metal concerts after Black Sabbath’s tour with Dio.

Beyond music, the horns have been adopted by the notorious MS‑13 gang. The shape resembles an inverted “devil horns” forming the letter “M,” symbolizing ferocity and nonconformity.

In Texas, the gesture is best known as the “Hook ’em Horns” sign for the University of Texas at Austin, mimicking the longhorn mascot Bevo’s head and horns. Various other sports teams also use similar hand signs to represent mascots such as bulls, bison, or devils.

Bram Stoker even referenced the symbol in his 1897 novel Dracula, underscoring its cultural reach.

5 V‑Sign

The V‑sign carries opposite meanings depending on orientation and geography. In the United States, the palm‑outward version signals peace or victory, while the palm‑inward version, popular in Britain, is considered a rude equivalent of the middle finger.

One theory traces the gesture to the 1415 Battle of Agincourt, where English archers allegedly raised two fingers to mock French soldiers who had amputated the two fingers essential for drawing a bow. This act of defiance supposedly evolved into a broader sign of triumph.

Another account links the V‑sign to a medieval cuckold gesture, where the little and index fingers were extended to mock a husband whose wife had been unfaithful. Though less severe than a direct insult, it conveyed social scorn.

4 Thumbs Up And Thumbs Down

Today, a thumbs‑up signals approval while a thumbs‑down denotes disapproval. Their roots lie in ancient Roman gladiatorial contests, where the term pollice verso (“turned thumb”) described the referee’s decision.

When a wounded gladiator lay on the arena floor, the audience signaled whether the combatant should live or die. A raised thumb meant the loser should be slain, whereas a lowered thumb—interpreted as “swords down”—indicated mercy and spared the fighter’s life.

3 Clenched Fist

The clenched fist has become the ultimate emblem of solidarity, defiance, and collective power. While many associate it with civil‑rights movements, its earliest political use dates back to the Spanish Civil War, where communists needed a counter‑symbol to the fascists’ open‑palm salute.

Communists adopted the fist to convey that they were not to be trifled with. The closed hand, with its four weak fingers and a strong thumb forming a compact unit, contrasted sharply with the open palm’s display of vulnerability.

From Spain, the clenched fist spread to other left‑wing and anti‑colonial groups worldwide, eventually permeating a broad range of protest movements as a universal sign of unity and resistance.

2 Shaka Sign

The shaka sign, formed by extending the pinky and thumb while the remaining fingers rest on the palm, is a staple of Hawaiian culture. Accompanied by the chant “Shaka, brah!” it conveys a spectrum of meanings: hello, goodbye, thanks, “hang loose,” “right on,” “no rush,” and an all‑encompassing “everything’s good.”

Its origins are contested, but two stories credit Hawaiian Hamana Kalili, who lost three fingers on his right hand. One tale says Kalili unintentionally created the gesture while blessing someone; another claims he used it to fend off children trying to hop onto trains. Some accounts even attribute the sign to a surfer who survived a shark bite that removed three fingers.

A fourth theory suggests early Spanish explorers introduced the gesture, raising their thumbs to their lips to signal friendliness and an invitation to share a drink, a custom that may have merged with local practices.

1 Vulcan Salute

The Vulcan salute mirrors the V‑sign but uses all four fingers on a single hand. Starting with all fingers together, the middle and ring fingers are spread apart, forming a “V.” Fans of Star Trek and sci‑fi enthusiasts alike use it as a friendly greeting.

Leonard Nimoy first performed the salute in 1967 while portraying Mr. Spock. Within the series, the gesture signified “live long and prosper” among the Vulcan people. Nimoy devised it to give the alien race a distinctive greeting.

Inspired by a Jewish ritual, Nimoy borrowed the hand shape that represents the Hebrew letter shin, the first character in the word “Lord.” Jewish priests employ the same hand formation to bless congregants, a visual cue Nimoy observed in his youth.

Modern prosthetic technology is nothing short of spectacular, with sensors that let users feel textures and mind‑controlled limbs that respond to thought. Yet the quest to replace missing body parts stretches back millennia. In this roundup of 10 ancient prosthetics, we travel from a bronze hand unearthed in Switzerland to a 5,000‑year‑old artificial eye, uncovering the remarkable craftsmanship of our ancestors.

10 Ancient Prosthetics: A Glimpse Into Early Innovation

10 The Hand of Prêles

In the summer of 2017, a group of treasure hunters combing the fields near the Swiss village of Prêles accidentally disturbed an ancient burial site. Among the assorted relics they recovered were a rib bone, a bronze dagger, and an enigmatic metal hand that instantly stole the spotlight when handed over to the Archaeological Service of the Canton of Bern.

This curious artifact measures just a shade smaller than an actual human hand and is forged from a bronze‑tin alloy, accented with a gleaming gold cuff. It tips the scales at roughly 18 ounces (about 17 grams) and features a hollow socket at its base, hinting at a functional purpose beyond mere decoration.

Scholars have debated its role: it might have been a prosthetic limb, a ceremonial ornament mounted on a scepter, or a decorative element of a statue. Its interment with the individual leans toward a personal prosthetic or a status symbol. At an estimated 3,500 years old, it claims the title of Europe’s oldest metal sculpture representing a human body part.

9 A Special Foot

During a 2013 excavation beside a medieval church in southern Austria, archaeologists uncovered a burial that belonged to a man aged between 35 and 50, laid to rest sometime between AD 536 and 600. Grave goods identified him as a member of the Frankish tribes, a Germanic people known throughout early medieval Europe.

Three years later, researchers published their findings: the individual possessed a wooden prosthetic foot reinforced with an iron ring. The device showed clear signs of wear, confirming that it was not merely a decorative funerary addition but a practical walking aid the wearer relied upon during life.

The lower leg and foot were missing, yet healed bone tissue indicated the man survived the amputation and lived for at least two additional years—an impressive feat given the high risk of infection in that era.

8 A Four‑Fingered Hand

In 2023, pipeline work near Munich, Germany, unintentionally disturbed an ancient grave. Archaeologists soon determined that the interred male, who died between 1450 and 1620 at an age of 30 to 50, was missing the bones of four fingers, though his thumb remained intact.

In place of those absent digits, he wore an iron glove fashioned with four artificial fingers. The prosthetic fingers were hollow, rigid, and subtly curved to mimic a natural hand shape. Straps of leather appear to have secured the glove, while a gauze‑like fabric was packed inside to cushion the skin and prevent chafing.

The exact cause of the loss remains unknown, but the timeframe coincides with periods of intense military conflict, making a combat‑related injury a plausible explanation for the amputation.

7 A Luxury Toe

West of Luxor, Egypt, a modest chapel once housed the burials of individuals close to the royal family. Among the tombs, archaeologists uncovered the remains of a priest’s daughter who possessed a remarkably realistic wooden big toe, meticulously carved and strapped to her foot.

In 2017, a suite of modern analyses—including computer tomography, X‑ray imaging, and high‑resolution microscopy—revealed that the artisan who crafted the toe possessed an advanced understanding of human anatomy. The prosthetic was not merely decorative; it was designed to restore a natural appearance and function.The researchers also discovered that the toe had been refitted multiple times, indicating a sustained effort to ensure the wearer could walk comfortably and as naturally as possible.

6 Precursor to Modern Tooth Bridges

Excavations in 2016 at two burial sites in Lucca, Italy, yielded a curious dental prosthesis among the remains of roughly a hundred individuals. Although the exact owner could not be identified, experts dated the device to around 400 years ago based on its context.

The prosthetic comprised five real teeth sourced from different donors, assembled in a non‑traditional order—three incisors followed by two canines. Despite the haphazard arrangement, the maker demonstrated ingenuity by trimming the tips of each root, slicing them lengthwise, and aligning the teeth before fastening them with a delicate gold band.

Each tooth was secured to the band with two tiny golden pins, a technique that mirrors the modern Maryland bridge—a method developed in the 1970s that uses small “wings” attached to adjacent teeth for stability. This find thus represents the earliest physical evidence of a bridge‑type dental appliance.

5 A Deadly Prosthetic

In a 1985 discovery at an Italian burial site, archaeologists uncovered the remains of a Middle‑Age man whose forearm had been amputated at the mid‑forearm level. The individual, likely a member of the Longobard (Lombard) Germanic tribe, lived to an age of 40‑50.

Rather than a conventional prosthetic, he replaced his missing hand with an iron knife, effectively turning his limb into a weaponized tool. Researchers believe the knife served both defensive purposes and practical daily tasks, granting him a uniquely formidable appearance.

The blade was attached to the residual arm using straps that the man apparently tightened with his own teeth—a hypothesis supported by severe wear observed on the right side of his dentition.

4 A Golden Mouth Plate

Fast forward to the 18th century in Poland, where a man born with a cleft palate faced the challenges of speech, swallowing, and breathing without modern surgical remedies. Archaeologists unearthed his remains in 2024, accompanied by a striking prosthetic palate.

The device was an expertly forged amalgam of copper, gold, and silver, padded internally with wool and felt to enhance comfort and fit. This combination of precious metals and soft materials created a functional yet elegant solution for his congenital condition.

Analysis of the remains confirmed that the prosthesis allowed him to lead a relatively normal life until his death around age 50, highlighting an early example of personalized medical engineering.

3 A Postmortem Prosthesis

Ancient Egypt’s turbulent political landscape once saw the murder of Pharaoh Ramesses III in 1155 BC, orchestrated by conspirators seeking to place the queen’s son on the throne. Forensic examinations in 2012 revealed that the pharaoh suffered a brutal assault, including a slashed throat and a hacked‑off big toe.

To restore the visual completeness of the king’s body, embalmers fashioned a replacement toe from linen and positioned it on his foot. This post‑mortem prosthesis underscores that even in antiquity, caretakers sought to preserve the dignity of the deceased through artificial means.

2 The World’s Oldest Prosthetic Eye

In 2006, an Iranian team excavating the ancient Burnt City near Zabol uncovered a 5,000‑year‑old female skeleton. Among the most striking finds was an artificial eye lodged in the left orbital socket, composed of animal fat and natural tar, wrapped in gold and etched to mimic an iris.

The eye featured delicate golden wires that simulated tiny blood vessels, and two tiny holes on either side likely served to secure the prosthetic during the wearer’s lifetime. Remarkably, remnants of eyelid tissue clung to the artifact, indicating it was not a post‑mortem adornment but a functional replacement used throughout her 25‑30 year life.

1 A Non‑Amputee With A Prosthetic Leg

Near Turpan, China, a 2,200‑year‑old tomb revealed a man whose left knee had fused at an extreme 80‑degree angle, rendering the joint immobile. To aid his mobility, archaeologists found a wooden prosthetic leg positioned beneath the knee, affixed to the thigh with leather straps.

The prosthetic’s foot was fashioned from a genuine horse hoof, providing a sturdy base for walking. Evidence suggests the man may have suffered from tuberculosis, which could have triggered inflammatory processes leading to the abnormal bone fusion.

This ingenious solution demonstrates that ancient societies engineered functional aids for individuals who, despite severe deformities, retained both natural limbs.