The fig sign is a mildly obscene gesture that uses a thumb wedged in between two fingers. The gesture is most commonly used to ward off the evil eye, insult someone, or deny a request. It has been used at least since the Roman Age in Southern Europe and parts of the Mediterranean region, including in Turkish culture. Some countries in Asia, Slavic cultures and South Africa use it too. It is used playfully in Northwestern Europe and North Africa, countries such as the US, Canada, Australia, Libya, Tunisia and Czech Republic to pretend to take the nose off a child.
The letter "T" in the American manual alphabet is very similar to this gesture.
The hand gesture may have originated in ancient Indian culture to depict the lingam and yoni.
Historical usage
Among early Christians, it was known as the manus obscena, or 'obscene hand'.
In ancient Rome, the fig sign, or manu fica, was made by the pater familias to ward off the evil spirits of the dead...
Bartosz Milewski
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