DDam.Sign forStreamorRiverandHold. (Blackfoot.)Fr.la digue,l’écluse; Ger.der Damm.DanceDance(People jumping together). Bring the flat (or “5”) hands in front of body about height of breast, with fingers pointing nearly up, palms toward each otherabout six inches apart. Move the hands briskly upward and downward a few inches several times, simultaneously, mostly by elbow action. ComparePeople.DanceDance(Drumming). Hold up one flat hand face high, back to side, thumb raised and up: jerk up and down. (C)Fr.danser;la danse; Ger.tanzen,der Tanz.DangerDanger(TheScoutorWolfgoing ahead and coming back to report danger). Right V hand, back upward, moved directly and slowly forward in front of the right shoulder and then suddenly and quickly drawn back at the same time the body is thrown back a little. (Sheeaka.)Danger.SignLook,Little,Afraid(No. 2).Fr.le danger; Ger.die Gefahr.Dangerous(Of a man). SignStrongandBad.Fr.dangereux; Ger.gefährlich.Dare you.SeeChallenge.DarkDark,Unknown,Obscure. Bring the flat hands, back outward, in front of face, right hand nearest face, left a little ahead, hands crossed, tips of fingers about opposite centre of forehead; bring the hands very slightly toward face. CompareAshamedandBlind.Fr.obscur; Ger.dunkel.Daughter.SignBornandFemale.Fr.la fille; Ger.die Tochter.Day.SeeTime.Daybreak.SignLittle,Sunrise.DaybreakDaybreak(A peep through darkness). Hold right flat hand above left flat hand and in same plane; right little finger on left index then raise the right hand a few inches higher. (C)Fr.l’aube; Ger.der Tagesanbruch.Dead,Death. Make the sign forDieandSleep. (C) The Cheyennes useDie.Fr.mort; Ger.tot.DeafDeaf(Hearing ground out). Press the palm of extended right hand slightly against right ear, and move the hand in small circle parallel to and close to the ear. Sometimes addNot.Fr.sourd; Ger.taub.Debt.SeeOwe.Deceive.SignGiveandLie.Fr.tromper; Ger.betrügen.DecideDecide,Determine,Make up one’s mind(Think, then act or settle it). Lower the head and raise right fist to chin; then raise the head and cut down with the little finger edge of the flat right hand. (Sheeaka.)Decide.This is a sentence rather than a sign. With 4 hand over heart, signConsider; point slowly in two or three directions forWays; signThatby vigorously swinging the right G index out, pointing down; thenaddSoby raising it slightly up and then down. (Blackfoot.)Fr.décider; Ger.sich entscheiden.DecreaseDecrease,Reduce, orMake smaller. Hold flat right hand, palm down, high above, a little to the side of flat left hand, palm up; move them together in succession of little jerks. Sometimes for emphasis finish by compressing all right fingers to a point in the left palm. CompareIncreaseandHeap.Fr.diminuer; Ger.verringern.DecrepitDecrepit,Old, orBroken down(Bent with disease or age). Hold up G hand, back to right, higher than shoulder; lower the hand several inches, at same time bend the index. (C)Decrepit.Hold up the right G, shoulder high, with index bent in a hook; rotate as inOld.Fr.décrépit; Ger.altersschwach,gebrechlich.Deed.SeeAct.DeepDeep.Hold the left flat hand horizontal, chin high, back up, fingers pointing to right; then drop right arm to full length down with flat right hand palm up, under left, fingers pointing forward.Fr.profond; Ger.tief.DeerDeer.Both hands fully spread, palms in and held up to the side of the head to represent the horns of a deer. (Sheeaka.) This is generic forDeer. CompareElk.Fr.le cerf; Ger.der Hirsch.Deer, MuleDeer, MuleorRocky Mountain Blacktail. SignDeerthen set compressed hand at each ear pointing up and forward to indicate the large ears, as in a mule. (Scott.) CompareBear.Fr.le cerf mulet; Ger.der langohrige Hirsch.Deer, WhitetailedDeer, WhitetailedorVirginian. Raise the right G hand, pointing up and shoulder high; switch it from nearly horizontal right to nearly horizontal left and back, several times, pausing at the low point each time. SignDeerif need for clearness.Fr.le cerf de la Virginie; Ger.der Hirsch aus Virginien.Defame.SeeAbuse.DefendDefend,Protect,Defense,Forbid, orProtection. Sign the same as the first part ofCorral, but swing the joined hands to left and right. So also to separate the hands means toLooseorRemoveprotection. SeeHoldorProtect.Fr.défendre; Ger.verteidigen.DefianceDefiance,Defy,Dare,Challenge, orI defy you. Point the T hand toward the person. This is an extremely insulting challenge implying also the extreme of hatred and contempt. SeeChallenge.Fr.le défi,défier; Ger.die Herausforderung,trotzen.Defiance, Insolent.SeeMockery.Delight.SeeExcite.Depart.SeeGo.DescribeDescribe,Explain, orTell about(Tell all about it). SignTalkandAll—that is, swing the curved flat right hand, palm down, and to left, in a horizontal circle in front of the right cheek.Fr.décrire; Ger.beschreiben.Desire.SeeWant.Destroy.SeeExterminate.Determine.SeeDecide.Devil.SignMedicine,Horns, andTail. A purely modern sign.Fr.le diable; Ger.der Teufel.Dew.SignNight,Grass, and theShimmer; i.e., pass curved right 5 hand, palm down, with a tremulous motion just above the grass and addWater. (C)Fr.la rosée; Ger.der Tau.DieDie(To go under; i.e., underground). Hold left hand flat, fingers horizontal, palm to you, breast high, pointing to right. Hold right G hand pointing to left above and within; pass it down, under and up beyond, still pointing to left.This is capable of modification. Thus passing the right hand under and drawing it back means to be near death but toRecover. To make the signLittleafter this means toFaint.Fr.mourir; Ger.sterben.Die out.SeeMelt.DifferentDifferentorWrong(Push aside). Hold up the flat right, pointing forward and a little up, back to right. Swing the whole arm a foot to right, forward and upward, without bending the wrist, then back to first pose and repeat; a much-used and very plastic sign. CompareBadandNo.Fr.différent; Ger.anders.Difficulty.SeeTrouble.Dig.Use flat right hand as a spade.Fr.creuser; Ger.graben.Dime.SignWhite,Little,Money.Dinner.SignNoonorNight, as may be, andEat.Fr.le dîner; Ger.das Mittagessen,die Haupmahlzeit.Direction.Point the G finger forward and down, swing it forward in a curve till it is about horizontal and pointing in the line intended.Fr.la direction; Ger.die Richtung.DirtorSoil. SeeEarth.Dirty.Rub the tips of the 1st and 2nd fingers with the tip of the thumb, exactly as inPowder, and addBad.Fr.sal; Ger.schmutzig.DisappearDisappear.Hold out the flat left, palm in, then shoot compressed right, points first, over and down; then rub upper edge of left with palm tips of right to meanwiped out.Disappear.Look around and signSee,Not. Sometimes useHide.Fr.disparaître; Ger.verschwinden.Disbelief.SignThat,True,I think,No.Fr.l’incrédulité; Ger.der Unglaube.Disciple.SeeLearner.Discouraged.SeeSorrow.Discovery.Found out.DiscussionDiscussion,Conversation, orDebate(In a general sense). Hold out both flat hands, palmsup, level, six inches apart, breast high; swing both to left, then back to right several times, to signify the handing of words back and forth.DiscussionorConversation(Between two). Make the sign forTalkalternately right at left and left at right.Fr.la conversation; Ger.das Gespräch.DisgustorDislike. Push both flat hands forward palms out, fingers up, and turn away head. OrHeart,Tired. (C) Sometimes useScorn.Fr.le dégoût; Ger.der Ekel.DismountDismount.SignHorseman, then separate and lower right V hand, points up. If the points of the A hand were down, it would mean “looking on the ground.” SeeMount.Fr.descendre de cheval; Ger.absteigen.Disobey.SignHear,Not. CompareObey.Fr.désobéir; Ger.nicht gehorchen.Distant.SeeFar.Distress.SeeSorrow.Fr.la misère; Ger.die Not.Dissolve.SeeMelt.Dive(To plunge into water). Place flat hands palm to palm and make the action of diving.Fr.plonger; Ger.tauchen.DiveDiveorSwoop(Like a bird in air). Hold out flat left hand, back outward, bring flat right hand, back out, some inches in rear of and higher than left hand, pointing downward and forward; then shoot the right hand downward and outward, back of hand grazing under the left hand and up beyond. CompareBorn.Fr.s’élancer; Ger.niederschiessen au.Divorce.SignMarry, then swing the fingers apart horizontally. This is a legal divorce. WhenAbandonis used it means leaving one’s mate without legal divorce.Do.SeeWork.Doctor.SignChiefandMedicine. (C) The Cheyennes omitChief.Fr.le médecin,le docteur; Ger.der Arzt.DoerDoerorThe one who doesorMan who(of all, that one). SignMan, then swing right G on the level a foot, andback six inches; then raise and strike with same G down on middle of the line. (Sheeaka. Apparently no other Indian knew it.) The Cheyennes signManandWork, orManandKnows.Fr.l’auteur,celui qui fait; Ger.der Täter.DogDog(Drawing lodge poles). With V hand back up in front of body draw the double trail down and backward. CompareWolf. Seger maintains that the idea here is the dog’s ears point backward as he runs. SeeBark.Fr.le chien; Ger.der Hund.Dollar.SignMoneyandOne. This would vary with the country, the sign stands for the unit of currency.Fr.le dollar; Ger.der Dollar.DoneDone,Ended,Finished,Complete,Period, orFull Stop(Chopped off). Hold left hand flat, fingers touching, point forward, thumb up and with edge of right similarly held, chop down close past the tips of the fingers.Also used as an auxiliary past tense, asI done eat.DoneDone(2)Finish,Quit,Break off. Hold up both fists at level of chin, palms down, middle knuckles of left touching ditto of right; jerk them a foot apart as though breaking a cord; swing them apart, down, along and up. This is also used as aPeriodat the end of sentence and I have seen it used forBankrupt. It is a northern sign recently established among the Cheyennes. CompareFatandBreak.Fr.fini; Ger.fertig.Don’t CareDon’t Care(I am defiant). Tap chest with tips of right flat hand, then swing the hand briskly and high to right, keeping palm facing the left. (Sheeaka.) Merely shrug the shoulders. (Blackfoot.) The Cheyennes signGo ahead.Fr.cela m’est égal; Ger.ich mache mir nichts daraus.Do notorDon’t. Hold up flat right hand, palm out, and forward at an angle; sharply shake the hand by wrist action back and forward (not sidewise), also sometimes the head. CompareEasyandRub it out. Sometimes useStop.Fr.ne faites pas; Ger.tun Sie das nicht.Don’t want.See underWant.DoorDoor.SignTeepeeorHouse, then hold flat left hand, thumb up, and lay flat right across the palm with little finger of the right as the hinge; swing it till it lies flat on left palm. (C) The Cheyennes signHouse, then pull and swing an imaginary door.Fr.la porte; Ger.die Tür.Doubt,I am doubtful. Very slowly shake the head. (Pop.) Cheyennes and other Indians add—right hand held out palm forward and down, open and shaken; really a slow, slightQuestionsign. SeeIf.Fr.le doute,j’en doute; Ger.der Zweifel,ich bezweifle.Down,Downward, orBelow. Point straight down with right G, lowering the same. (Blackfoot.) Some use flat hand for this. CompareHere.Fr.en bas; Ger.unten.Down-hearted.SeeSorrow.Dream(See while sleeping). SignSleepandSee; keeping the eyes closed.Fr.le rêve; Ger.der Traum.Dress.Pass the palm of the L hand over the part of the body to be covered. CompareHat,Moccasin,Robe, etc.Fr.la robe; Ger.das Kleid.DrinkDrinkorDrinking(From a cup). The O hand to the mouth as in drinking. CompareWant.DrinkingDrinkingin the abstract would be: Draw the hollow hand level to the mouth from slightly above and down past chin, fingers pointing nearly forward. This combinesWaterandSwallow. SeeWater. CompareSpeech.Fr.buvant; Ger.trinkend.Drinking liquor(Half a finger). Hold up right G hand back to you, then lay left G across back to indicate liquor, then addDrink. (Sheeaka.)Fr.buvant une boisson alcoolique; Ger.Schnaps trinkend.DriveDrive(Sense of driving a herd, or running off a herd). With L hands horizontal, opposite each other and same height, about an inch between tips of thumbs; move the hands simultaneously in the direction of the drive.Fr.mener; Ger.treiben.DrivingDriving(A team). Hold both hands, backs out, as though holding reins, thumbs straight, with index of each around its point. See-saw the hands on the same level.Fr.conduisant; Ger.lenkend,fahrend.Drouth.Sign,Long time,Rain,No.Fr.la sécheresse; Ger.die Dürre.Drown.SignWaterandDie.Fr.noyer; Ger.ertrinken.Drum.With G fingers draw a large circle, beginning together well forward, each making half-circle, ending near body; then strike on it several times with right A.Fr.le tambour; Ger.die Trommel.DrunkorDrunkard. SignCrazy,Drink, andMuch.Fr.ivre; Ger.betrunken.Dry(Of a stream or spring). SignStream,Water,All gone.Fr.sec; Ger.trocken.Dry.SeeThirsty.DuckDuck.Sign forBirdand make the broad bill with flat hand held under the nose, back up, pointing forward; push it forward a few inches, or else with thumb below and first and second fingers above.Fr.le canard; Ger.die Ente.Dull(Of a tool). SignCutandNotorBad. CompareSaw.Fr.émoussé; Ger.stumpf.Dull.SeeDunce.Dumb.Press the finger tips of the flat hand on the mouth; addTalkandNo.Fr.muet; Ger.stumm.DunceorDull(Blockhead). Strike forehead with right fist knuckles. (D) A Cheyenne signed itBehind,Book,Know,Not.Fr.le benêt,l’imbécile; Ger.der Dummkopf.During.SeeWhile.Dust.Rub tips of right fingers with tip of right thumb, as inPowder; then with flat right hand horizontal, palm down, pat several times toward the earth. (Scott.) SeeEarthandLand.If the dust is in the air, pat down with one flat hand, then wave both 5 hands, points up, near the eyes; sometimes blink and draw back to make it more expressive.Fr.la poussière; Ger.der Staub.Duty(That, me, sends). Sign forThat,Me, andGo(emphatically).Fr.le devoir; Ger.die Pflicht.DwellDwellorInhabit(Alive and moving about in). Right flat hand, face high, pointing up, twisted slowly from left to right two or three times. CompareAppear,Alive, andDoubt.DwellDwell(2) (Sitting, emphatic). One fist above the other in front as though grasping a stake, then with both handspush it down and slightly forward. (Blackfoot.) CompareSit.Fr.demeurer; Ger.bewohnen,wohnen.Dwindle.SeeDecrease.
Dam.Sign forStreamorRiverandHold. (Blackfoot.)
Fr.la digue,l’écluse; Ger.der Damm.
Dance
Dance(People jumping together). Bring the flat (or “5”) hands in front of body about height of breast, with fingers pointing nearly up, palms toward each otherabout six inches apart. Move the hands briskly upward and downward a few inches several times, simultaneously, mostly by elbow action. ComparePeople.
Dance
Dance(Drumming). Hold up one flat hand face high, back to side, thumb raised and up: jerk up and down. (C)
Fr.danser;la danse; Ger.tanzen,der Tanz.
Danger
Danger(TheScoutorWolfgoing ahead and coming back to report danger). Right V hand, back upward, moved directly and slowly forward in front of the right shoulder and then suddenly and quickly drawn back at the same time the body is thrown back a little. (Sheeaka.)
Danger.SignLook,Little,Afraid(No. 2).
Fr.le danger; Ger.die Gefahr.
Dangerous(Of a man). SignStrongandBad.
Fr.dangereux; Ger.gefährlich.
Dare you.SeeChallenge.
Dark
Dark,Unknown,Obscure. Bring the flat hands, back outward, in front of face, right hand nearest face, left a little ahead, hands crossed, tips of fingers about opposite centre of forehead; bring the hands very slightly toward face. CompareAshamedandBlind.
Fr.obscur; Ger.dunkel.
Daughter.SignBornandFemale.
Fr.la fille; Ger.die Tochter.
Day.SeeTime.
Daybreak.SignLittle,Sunrise.
Daybreak
Daybreak(A peep through darkness). Hold right flat hand above left flat hand and in same plane; right little finger on left index then raise the right hand a few inches higher. (C)
Fr.l’aube; Ger.der Tagesanbruch.
Dead,Death. Make the sign forDieandSleep. (C) The Cheyennes useDie.
Fr.mort; Ger.tot.
Deaf
Deaf(Hearing ground out). Press the palm of extended right hand slightly against right ear, and move the hand in small circle parallel to and close to the ear. Sometimes addNot.
Fr.sourd; Ger.taub.
Debt.SeeOwe.
Deceive.SignGiveandLie.
Fr.tromper; Ger.betrügen.
Decide
Decide,Determine,Make up one’s mind(Think, then act or settle it). Lower the head and raise right fist to chin; then raise the head and cut down with the little finger edge of the flat right hand. (Sheeaka.)
Decide.This is a sentence rather than a sign. With 4 hand over heart, signConsider; point slowly in two or three directions forWays; signThatby vigorously swinging the right G index out, pointing down; thenaddSoby raising it slightly up and then down. (Blackfoot.)
Fr.décider; Ger.sich entscheiden.
Decrease
Decrease,Reduce, orMake smaller. Hold flat right hand, palm down, high above, a little to the side of flat left hand, palm up; move them together in succession of little jerks. Sometimes for emphasis finish by compressing all right fingers to a point in the left palm. CompareIncreaseandHeap.
Fr.diminuer; Ger.verringern.
Decrepit
Decrepit,Old, orBroken down(Bent with disease or age). Hold up G hand, back to right, higher than shoulder; lower the hand several inches, at same time bend the index. (C)
Decrepit.Hold up the right G, shoulder high, with index bent in a hook; rotate as inOld.
Fr.décrépit; Ger.altersschwach,gebrechlich.
Deed.SeeAct.
Deep
Deep.Hold the left flat hand horizontal, chin high, back up, fingers pointing to right; then drop right arm to full length down with flat right hand palm up, under left, fingers pointing forward.
Fr.profond; Ger.tief.
Deer
Deer.Both hands fully spread, palms in and held up to the side of the head to represent the horns of a deer. (Sheeaka.) This is generic forDeer. CompareElk.
Fr.le cerf; Ger.der Hirsch.
Deer, Mule
Deer, MuleorRocky Mountain Blacktail. SignDeerthen set compressed hand at each ear pointing up and forward to indicate the large ears, as in a mule. (Scott.) CompareBear.
Fr.le cerf mulet; Ger.der langohrige Hirsch.
Deer, Whitetailed
Deer, WhitetailedorVirginian. Raise the right G hand, pointing up and shoulder high; switch it from nearly horizontal right to nearly horizontal left and back, several times, pausing at the low point each time. SignDeerif need for clearness.
Fr.le cerf de la Virginie; Ger.der Hirsch aus Virginien.
Defame.SeeAbuse.
Defend
Defend,Protect,Defense,Forbid, orProtection. Sign the same as the first part ofCorral, but swing the joined hands to left and right. So also to separate the hands means toLooseorRemoveprotection. SeeHoldorProtect.
Fr.défendre; Ger.verteidigen.
Defiance
Defiance,Defy,Dare,Challenge, orI defy you. Point the T hand toward the person. This is an extremely insulting challenge implying also the extreme of hatred and contempt. SeeChallenge.
Fr.le défi,défier; Ger.die Herausforderung,trotzen.
Defiance, Insolent.SeeMockery.
Delight.SeeExcite.
Depart.SeeGo.
Describe
Describe,Explain, orTell about(Tell all about it). SignTalkandAll—that is, swing the curved flat right hand, palm down, and to left, in a horizontal circle in front of the right cheek.
Fr.décrire; Ger.beschreiben.
Desire.SeeWant.
Destroy.SeeExterminate.
Determine.SeeDecide.
Devil.SignMedicine,Horns, andTail. A purely modern sign.
Fr.le diable; Ger.der Teufel.
Dew.SignNight,Grass, and theShimmer; i.e., pass curved right 5 hand, palm down, with a tremulous motion just above the grass and addWater. (C)
Fr.la rosée; Ger.der Tau.
Die
Die(To go under; i.e., underground). Hold left hand flat, fingers horizontal, palm to you, breast high, pointing to right. Hold right G hand pointing to left above and within; pass it down, under and up beyond, still pointing to left.
This is capable of modification. Thus passing the right hand under and drawing it back means to be near death but toRecover. To make the signLittleafter this means toFaint.
Fr.mourir; Ger.sterben.
Die out.SeeMelt.
Different
DifferentorWrong(Push aside). Hold up the flat right, pointing forward and a little up, back to right. Swing the whole arm a foot to right, forward and upward, without bending the wrist, then back to first pose and repeat; a much-used and very plastic sign. CompareBadandNo.
Fr.différent; Ger.anders.
Difficulty.SeeTrouble.
Dig.Use flat right hand as a spade.
Fr.creuser; Ger.graben.
Dime.SignWhite,Little,Money.
Dinner.SignNoonorNight, as may be, andEat.
Fr.le dîner; Ger.das Mittagessen,die Haupmahlzeit.
Direction.Point the G finger forward and down, swing it forward in a curve till it is about horizontal and pointing in the line intended.
Fr.la direction; Ger.die Richtung.
DirtorSoil. SeeEarth.
Dirty.Rub the tips of the 1st and 2nd fingers with the tip of the thumb, exactly as inPowder, and addBad.
Fr.sal; Ger.schmutzig.
Disappear
Disappear.Hold out the flat left, palm in, then shoot compressed right, points first, over and down; then rub upper edge of left with palm tips of right to meanwiped out.
Disappear.Look around and signSee,Not. Sometimes useHide.
Fr.disparaître; Ger.verschwinden.
Disbelief.SignThat,True,I think,No.
Fr.l’incrédulité; Ger.der Unglaube.
Disciple.SeeLearner.
Discouraged.SeeSorrow.
Discovery.Found out.
Discussion
Discussion,Conversation, orDebate(In a general sense). Hold out both flat hands, palmsup, level, six inches apart, breast high; swing both to left, then back to right several times, to signify the handing of words back and forth.
DiscussionorConversation(Between two). Make the sign forTalkalternately right at left and left at right.
Fr.la conversation; Ger.das Gespräch.
DisgustorDislike. Push both flat hands forward palms out, fingers up, and turn away head. OrHeart,Tired. (C) Sometimes useScorn.
Fr.le dégoût; Ger.der Ekel.
Dismount
Dismount.SignHorseman, then separate and lower right V hand, points up. If the points of the A hand were down, it would mean “looking on the ground.” SeeMount.
Fr.descendre de cheval; Ger.absteigen.
Disobey.SignHear,Not. CompareObey.
Fr.désobéir; Ger.nicht gehorchen.
Distant.SeeFar.
Distress.SeeSorrow.
Fr.la misère; Ger.die Not.
Dissolve.SeeMelt.
Dive(To plunge into water). Place flat hands palm to palm and make the action of diving.
Fr.plonger; Ger.tauchen.
Dive
DiveorSwoop(Like a bird in air). Hold out flat left hand, back outward, bring flat right hand, back out, some inches in rear of and higher than left hand, pointing downward and forward; then shoot the right hand downward and outward, back of hand grazing under the left hand and up beyond. CompareBorn.
Fr.s’élancer; Ger.niederschiessen au.
Divorce.SignMarry, then swing the fingers apart horizontally. This is a legal divorce. WhenAbandonis used it means leaving one’s mate without legal divorce.
Do.SeeWork.
Doctor.SignChiefandMedicine. (C) The Cheyennes omitChief.
Fr.le médecin,le docteur; Ger.der Arzt.
Doer
DoerorThe one who doesorMan who(of all, that one). SignMan, then swing right G on the level a foot, andback six inches; then raise and strike with same G down on middle of the line. (Sheeaka. Apparently no other Indian knew it.) The Cheyennes signManandWork, orManandKnows.
Fr.l’auteur,celui qui fait; Ger.der Täter.
Dog
Dog(Drawing lodge poles). With V hand back up in front of body draw the double trail down and backward. CompareWolf. Seger maintains that the idea here is the dog’s ears point backward as he runs. SeeBark.
Fr.le chien; Ger.der Hund.
Dollar.SignMoneyandOne. This would vary with the country, the sign stands for the unit of currency.
Fr.le dollar; Ger.der Dollar.
Done
Done,Ended,Finished,Complete,Period, orFull Stop(Chopped off). Hold left hand flat, fingers touching, point forward, thumb up and with edge of right similarly held, chop down close past the tips of the fingers.
Also used as an auxiliary past tense, asI done eat.
Done
Done(2)Finish,Quit,Break off. Hold up both fists at level of chin, palms down, middle knuckles of left touching ditto of right; jerk them a foot apart as though breaking a cord; swing them apart, down, along and up. This is also used as aPeriodat the end of sentence and I have seen it used forBankrupt. It is a northern sign recently established among the Cheyennes. CompareFatandBreak.
Fr.fini; Ger.fertig.
Don’t Care
Don’t Care(I am defiant). Tap chest with tips of right flat hand, then swing the hand briskly and high to right, keeping palm facing the left. (Sheeaka.) Merely shrug the shoulders. (Blackfoot.) The Cheyennes signGo ahead.
Fr.cela m’est égal; Ger.ich mache mir nichts daraus.
Do notorDon’t. Hold up flat right hand, palm out, and forward at an angle; sharply shake the hand by wrist action back and forward (not sidewise), also sometimes the head. CompareEasyandRub it out. Sometimes useStop.
Fr.ne faites pas; Ger.tun Sie das nicht.
Don’t want.See underWant.
Door
Door.SignTeepeeorHouse, then hold flat left hand, thumb up, and lay flat right across the palm with little finger of the right as the hinge; swing it till it lies flat on left palm. (C) The Cheyennes signHouse, then pull and swing an imaginary door.
Fr.la porte; Ger.die Tür.
Doubt,I am doubtful. Very slowly shake the head. (Pop.) Cheyennes and other Indians add—right hand held out palm forward and down, open and shaken; really a slow, slightQuestionsign. SeeIf.
Fr.le doute,j’en doute; Ger.der Zweifel,ich bezweifle.
Down,Downward, orBelow. Point straight down with right G, lowering the same. (Blackfoot.) Some use flat hand for this. CompareHere.
Fr.en bas; Ger.unten.
Down-hearted.SeeSorrow.
Dream(See while sleeping). SignSleepandSee; keeping the eyes closed.
Fr.le rêve; Ger.der Traum.
Dress.Pass the palm of the L hand over the part of the body to be covered. CompareHat,Moccasin,Robe, etc.
Fr.la robe; Ger.das Kleid.
Drink
DrinkorDrinking(From a cup). The O hand to the mouth as in drinking. CompareWant.
Drinking
Drinkingin the abstract would be: Draw the hollow hand level to the mouth from slightly above and down past chin, fingers pointing nearly forward. This combinesWaterandSwallow. SeeWater. CompareSpeech.
Fr.buvant; Ger.trinkend.
Drinking liquor(Half a finger). Hold up right G hand back to you, then lay left G across back to indicate liquor, then addDrink. (Sheeaka.)
Fr.buvant une boisson alcoolique; Ger.Schnaps trinkend.
Drive
Drive(Sense of driving a herd, or running off a herd). With L hands horizontal, opposite each other and same height, about an inch between tips of thumbs; move the hands simultaneously in the direction of the drive.
Fr.mener; Ger.treiben.
Driving
Driving(A team). Hold both hands, backs out, as though holding reins, thumbs straight, with index of each around its point. See-saw the hands on the same level.
Fr.conduisant; Ger.lenkend,fahrend.
Drouth.Sign,Long time,Rain,No.
Fr.la sécheresse; Ger.die Dürre.
Drown.SignWaterandDie.
Fr.noyer; Ger.ertrinken.
Drum.With G fingers draw a large circle, beginning together well forward, each making half-circle, ending near body; then strike on it several times with right A.
Fr.le tambour; Ger.die Trommel.
DrunkorDrunkard. SignCrazy,Drink, andMuch.
Fr.ivre; Ger.betrunken.
Dry(Of a stream or spring). SignStream,Water,All gone.
Fr.sec; Ger.trocken.
Dry.SeeThirsty.
Duck
Duck.Sign forBirdand make the broad bill with flat hand held under the nose, back up, pointing forward; push it forward a few inches, or else with thumb below and first and second fingers above.
Fr.le canard; Ger.die Ente.
Dull(Of a tool). SignCutandNotorBad. CompareSaw.
Fr.émoussé; Ger.stumpf.
Dull.SeeDunce.
Dumb.Press the finger tips of the flat hand on the mouth; addTalkandNo.
Fr.muet; Ger.stumm.
DunceorDull(Blockhead). Strike forehead with right fist knuckles. (D) A Cheyenne signed itBehind,Book,Know,Not.
Fr.le benêt,l’imbécile; Ger.der Dummkopf.
During.SeeWhile.
Dust.Rub tips of right fingers with tip of right thumb, as inPowder; then with flat right hand horizontal, palm down, pat several times toward the earth. (Scott.) SeeEarthandLand.
If the dust is in the air, pat down with one flat hand, then wave both 5 hands, points up, near the eyes; sometimes blink and draw back to make it more expressive.
Fr.la poussière; Ger.der Staub.
Duty(That, me, sends). Sign forThat,Me, andGo(emphatically).
Fr.le devoir; Ger.die Pflicht.
Dwell
DwellorInhabit(Alive and moving about in). Right flat hand, face high, pointing up, twisted slowly from left to right two or three times. CompareAppear,Alive, andDoubt.
Dwell
Dwell(2) (Sitting, emphatic). One fist above the other in front as though grasping a stake, then with both handspush it down and slightly forward. (Blackfoot.) CompareSit.
Fr.demeurer; Ger.bewohnen,wohnen.
Dwindle.SeeDecrease.