Brewer's: Popefigland

An island inhabited by the Gaillardets (French, gaillard, gay people), rich and free, till, being shown one day the pope's image, they exclaimed, “A fig for the pope!” whereupon the whole island was put to the sword. Its name was then changed to Popefigland, and the people were called Popefigs.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
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