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==Etymology==
[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English], from [[Latin]] salutare, from salut-, salus health, safety, greeting, from salvus safe, healthy — more at safe
*Date: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_Century 14th century]
==Definitions==
:transitive verb
*1 a : to address with [[expressions]] of kind wishes, courtesy, or [[honor]]
:b : to give a sign of [[respect]], courtesy, or goodwill to : greet
*2 : to become apparent to (one of the [[senses]])
*3 a : to [[honor]] (as a [[person]], nation, or [[event]]) by a conventional military or naval [[ceremony]]
:b : to show respect and recognition to (a military superior) by assuming a prescribed position
:c : to express commendation of : praiseintransitive verb : to make a salute
==Description==
A '''salute''' (also called obeisance) is a [[gesture]] (often a finger gesture) or other [[action]] used to display [[respect]]. Salutes are primarily [[associated]] with armed forces, but other organizations also use salutes.
==Origin==
The exact [[origin]] of this salute has been lost in [[time]]. One [[theory]] is that it came from Roman soldiers' shading their eyes from the [[intense]] [[light]] that was pretended to shine from the eyes of their superiors. Another theory is that it came from when men-at-arms wore [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armor armor]—a friendly approach would include holding the reins of the horse with the left hand while raising the visor of the helmet with the right, so that one would know they meant not to battle them. A third theory is that the salute, and the handshake, came from a way of showing that the right hand (the fighting hand) was not concealing a weapon. A combination of showing an empty right hand, palm outwards, which was then raised [[formally]] to a helmet to raise a visor would [[demonstrate]] non-aggressive [[intentions]], and therefore [[respect]]. In Tudor times the helmet of a suit of armour was known as a ''sallet'', a word very similar to the word ''salute''.
The most widely accepted theory is that it [[evolved]] from the [[practice]] of men raising their hats in the [[presence]] of officers. Tipping one's hat on meeting a social superior was the normal civilian sign of respect at the time [1]. Repeated hat-raising was impractical if heavy helmets were worn, so the gesture was stylised to a mere [[Gesture|hand movement]]. It was also common for [[individuals]] who did not wear hats to "tug their forelock" in imitation of the gesture of tipping the hat.
The naval salute, with the palm downwards originated because the palms of naval ratings, particularly deckhands, were often dirty through working with lines. Because it would be insulting to present a dirty palm to an officer, the palm was turned downwards. During the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleonic_Wars Napoleonic Wars], British crews saluted officers by touching a clenched fist to the brow.
[[Category: Anthropology]]
[[Category: Sociology]]
==Etymology==
[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English], from [[Latin]] salutare, from salut-, salus health, safety, greeting, from salvus safe, healthy — more at safe
*Date: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_Century 14th century]
==Definitions==
:transitive verb
*1 a : to address with [[expressions]] of kind wishes, courtesy, or [[honor]]
:b : to give a sign of [[respect]], courtesy, or goodwill to : greet
*2 : to become apparent to (one of the [[senses]])
*3 a : to [[honor]] (as a [[person]], nation, or [[event]]) by a conventional military or naval [[ceremony]]
:b : to show respect and recognition to (a military superior) by assuming a prescribed position
:c : to express commendation of : praiseintransitive verb : to make a salute
==Description==
A '''salute''' (also called obeisance) is a [[gesture]] (often a finger gesture) or other [[action]] used to display [[respect]]. Salutes are primarily [[associated]] with armed forces, but other organizations also use salutes.
==Origin==
The exact [[origin]] of this salute has been lost in [[time]]. One [[theory]] is that it came from Roman soldiers' shading their eyes from the [[intense]] [[light]] that was pretended to shine from the eyes of their superiors. Another theory is that it came from when men-at-arms wore [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armor armor]—a friendly approach would include holding the reins of the horse with the left hand while raising the visor of the helmet with the right, so that one would know they meant not to battle them. A third theory is that the salute, and the handshake, came from a way of showing that the right hand (the fighting hand) was not concealing a weapon. A combination of showing an empty right hand, palm outwards, which was then raised [[formally]] to a helmet to raise a visor would [[demonstrate]] non-aggressive [[intentions]], and therefore [[respect]]. In Tudor times the helmet of a suit of armour was known as a ''sallet'', a word very similar to the word ''salute''.
The most widely accepted theory is that it [[evolved]] from the [[practice]] of men raising their hats in the [[presence]] of officers. Tipping one's hat on meeting a social superior was the normal civilian sign of respect at the time [1]. Repeated hat-raising was impractical if heavy helmets were worn, so the gesture was stylised to a mere [[Gesture|hand movement]]. It was also common for [[individuals]] who did not wear hats to "tug their forelock" in imitation of the gesture of tipping the hat.
The naval salute, with the palm downwards originated because the palms of naval ratings, particularly deckhands, were often dirty through working with lines. Because it would be insulting to present a dirty palm to an officer, the palm was turned downwards. During the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleonic_Wars Napoleonic Wars], British crews saluted officers by touching a clenched fist to the brow.
[[Category: Anthropology]]
[[Category: Sociology]]