EEagleEagle.The sign forBirdis slowly made, then with the G hand in front of the face, back to right, describe a downward curve from between the eyes to indicate the curved bill of the eagle. This same sign is given forRoman nose, but hold the back of the hand forward.Fr.l’aigle; Ger.der Adler.Early.SeeSoon.Early evening.SignSunsetandLittle of. (C) The Cheyennes understood this, but preferred to swing theSunsign down to near, but not quite, level.Fr.au commencement du soir; Ger.früh am Abend.Early morning.SignLittleandDaybreak, orSunrise.Fr.de bon matin; Ger.frühmorgens.Ear-rings.Make a ring of each index and thumb and apply to each ear-lobe, backs of hands out, other fingers raised.Fr.les boucles d’oreilles; Ger.das Ohrgehänge.Earth,the World(All land). SignAllwith both flat hands, palms down, then pat down with both hands twice. CompareLand.Fr.le monde; Ger.die Erde,die Welt.Earth,Soil, orDirt. Point down, then with thumb and finger tips, lift and rub some imaginary soil as inPowder.Fr.la terre; Ger.die Erde,der Schmutz.EasyEasy,Softly, orGently. Hold flat hand at face height, fingers half spread and a little curved, palm forward, leaning toward the person and gently and slightly shake the hand from side to side. (Sioux and Blackfoot.) With slight modification, much used on the railway in shunting. CompareRub it out,Question, andDo not.Fr.doucement; Ger.sachte.EatEatorFood. Throw the nearly compressed right hand lightly in a curve past the mouth several times. CompareWaterandDrink.Fr.manger; Ger.essen.Eaten enoughEaten enough(Full to throat). SignEat, then lay L hand on breast, palm in, and raise it to opposite chin. CompareHang.Fr.assez mangé; Ger.satt gegessen.Effect.SeeResult.Effort.SeeTry.Egg.SignBirdandBorn; then indicate the size of the egg with finger and thumb of one or both hands.Fr.l’oeuf; Ger.das Ei.EitherEither,Or. Hold out left V hand, back up; tap each finger in turn with right G. CompareBoth.Fr.l’un ou l’autre,ou ... ou; Ger.entweder ... oder.ElkElkorWapiti. Hold the hands above the head at arm’s length on each side, thumb and first two fingers of each spread, others closed; jerk them forward two or three times for three or four inches. CompareDeer,Moose, andCaribou.Fr.le cerf du Canada; Ger.das Elentier.EmptyEmpty,Absent,Gone, orOut of. Place the right 5 hand, points up, in the left C hand, which is back, forward, and down; drop the right hand down out of the left, closing left to O. CompareAll gone.Fr.vide; Ger.leer.Encamp.SeeCamp.Encircle.SeeSurround.EnclosureEnclosure.Hold out both 5 hands level, palm to palm, finger tips touching; swing them apart in a horizontal circle; draw them back; end with fingers wide apart and heels touching. A much-used sign. SeeCorral.Fr.l’enclos; Ger.die Einzäunung.End.SeeDone.EndureEndure,Suffer, orStand it(Suffering, but strong and erect). Hold flat curved right hand close in front of breast, breathe heavily, swinging the hand near and from; then raise the right A hand in a curve out and up, about head high. (Sheeaka.) Understood, but not used by Cheyennes.Fr.supporter; Ger.aushalten,leiden.Enemy.SignShake handsandNot. Sometimes useHate.Fr.l’ennemi; Ger.der Feind.EngagedEngagedorBetrothed(Ring-bound). SignPrisoner, then with right index indicate a ring on ring finger of left hand. (D)Engaged.SignBye and bye,Marry. SeeCourting.Fr.fiancé; Ger.verlobt.Engagement(i.e., Business). Swing the flat hands, palms up, up and down for six or eight inches, as inRoad, but not progressing. Or, signRoadandMeet.Fr.l’engagement,l’obligation; Ger.die Verabredung.Enlist.SignWorkandSoldier.Fr.enrôler; Ger.sich anwerben lassen.EnoughEnoughorFullin general sense (Levelling off a full measure). Hold out left O hand, back to left, and across the top from right to left pass the flat palm of the open right hand. Sometimes addStrong, to meanPlenty. SeeEaten enough.Fr.assez; Ger.genug.EnterEnterorCome into. Hold out hollow left, back up, and pass compressed right hand under and beyond.Fr.entrer; Ger.eintreten.EqualEqual,Even,Same,Too,Also(Even race). Hold G hands in front of breast, side by side, backs up, pointing to front, about two inches apart; push them forward together and a little up in a sweep. A much-used sign. CompareRace,Parallel,Marry, andMate.Fr.égal,le même; Ger.gleich,egal,genau so.EraseorAnnul. SignWrongandWipe out. SeeRub it out.Fr.effacer; Ger.auslöschen,ausstreichen.Escape.SeeFree.EvenorSame. SeeEqual.Evening.SignNightandLittle of. (C) SeeEarly evening.Fr.le soir; Ger.der Abend.Ever.SeeAlways.EvilorSin. SignWorkandBad.Evil EyeEvil Eye.Close all fingers of right hand, except index and little finger; to point these at any one means “You have the Evil Eye.” In Italy this is an insult. (Pop.) In France it means “Shame on you,” or “I put you to shame.” (Pop.)Fr.la main à corne; Ger.das Hexenauge.ExceptorUnless. SeeBut.ExcessiveExcessive,Too much,Unjust,Too(Extremely, piled up). With right palm down, make a succession of curves, marking stages each higher than the last, beginning very low; then finish by swinging both hands, palm down, away up and forward. (Sheeaka.) Or signHeap. Sometimes useEnough.Fr.excessif,trop; Ger.übermässig,zu viel.Exchange.SeeTrade.ExciteExcite,Agitate(Heart flutters). SignHeart, then hold the 5 hand near the heart, back to right, pointing upward; raise it a foot shaking the fingers. The Blackfeet use this forGlad, and in most cases among the Cheyennes it implies pleasant excitement.Fr.exciter; Ger.aufregen.Excuse.SeeWipe out.Exist.SeeBe.Expect.SeeHope.Explain.SeeDescribe.ExterminateExterminate,Annihilate,Crush,Destroy, etc. (Crushed and wiped out). Drop flat right on flat left, palm to palm, grind them together, then brush the right over the left tips, to front and beyond. CompareWipe out.Fr.exterminer; Ger.vernichten.
Eagle
Eagle.The sign forBirdis slowly made, then with the G hand in front of the face, back to right, describe a downward curve from between the eyes to indicate the curved bill of the eagle. This same sign is given forRoman nose, but hold the back of the hand forward.
Fr.l’aigle; Ger.der Adler.
Early.SeeSoon.
Early evening.SignSunsetandLittle of. (C) The Cheyennes understood this, but preferred to swing theSunsign down to near, but not quite, level.
Fr.au commencement du soir; Ger.früh am Abend.
Early morning.SignLittleandDaybreak, orSunrise.
Fr.de bon matin; Ger.frühmorgens.
Ear-rings.Make a ring of each index and thumb and apply to each ear-lobe, backs of hands out, other fingers raised.
Fr.les boucles d’oreilles; Ger.das Ohrgehänge.
Earth,the World(All land). SignAllwith both flat hands, palms down, then pat down with both hands twice. CompareLand.
Fr.le monde; Ger.die Erde,die Welt.
Earth,Soil, orDirt. Point down, then with thumb and finger tips, lift and rub some imaginary soil as inPowder.
Fr.la terre; Ger.die Erde,der Schmutz.
Easy
Easy,Softly, orGently. Hold flat hand at face height, fingers half spread and a little curved, palm forward, leaning toward the person and gently and slightly shake the hand from side to side. (Sioux and Blackfoot.) With slight modification, much used on the railway in shunting. CompareRub it out,Question, andDo not.
Fr.doucement; Ger.sachte.
Eat
EatorFood. Throw the nearly compressed right hand lightly in a curve past the mouth several times. CompareWaterandDrink.
Fr.manger; Ger.essen.
Eaten enough
Eaten enough(Full to throat). SignEat, then lay L hand on breast, palm in, and raise it to opposite chin. CompareHang.
Fr.assez mangé; Ger.satt gegessen.
Effect.SeeResult.
Effort.SeeTry.
Egg.SignBirdandBorn; then indicate the size of the egg with finger and thumb of one or both hands.
Fr.l’oeuf; Ger.das Ei.
Either
Either,Or. Hold out left V hand, back up; tap each finger in turn with right G. CompareBoth.
Fr.l’un ou l’autre,ou ... ou; Ger.entweder ... oder.
Elk
ElkorWapiti. Hold the hands above the head at arm’s length on each side, thumb and first two fingers of each spread, others closed; jerk them forward two or three times for three or four inches. CompareDeer,Moose, andCaribou.
Fr.le cerf du Canada; Ger.das Elentier.
Empty
Empty,Absent,Gone, orOut of. Place the right 5 hand, points up, in the left C hand, which is back, forward, and down; drop the right hand down out of the left, closing left to O. CompareAll gone.
Fr.vide; Ger.leer.
Encamp.SeeCamp.
Encircle.SeeSurround.
Enclosure
Enclosure.Hold out both 5 hands level, palm to palm, finger tips touching; swing them apart in a horizontal circle; draw them back; end with fingers wide apart and heels touching. A much-used sign. SeeCorral.
Fr.l’enclos; Ger.die Einzäunung.
End.SeeDone.
Endure
Endure,Suffer, orStand it(Suffering, but strong and erect). Hold flat curved right hand close in front of breast, breathe heavily, swinging the hand near and from; then raise the right A hand in a curve out and up, about head high. (Sheeaka.) Understood, but not used by Cheyennes.
Fr.supporter; Ger.aushalten,leiden.
Enemy.SignShake handsandNot. Sometimes useHate.
Fr.l’ennemi; Ger.der Feind.
Engaged
EngagedorBetrothed(Ring-bound). SignPrisoner, then with right index indicate a ring on ring finger of left hand. (D)
Engaged.SignBye and bye,Marry. SeeCourting.
Fr.fiancé; Ger.verlobt.
Engagement(i.e., Business). Swing the flat hands, palms up, up and down for six or eight inches, as inRoad, but not progressing. Or, signRoadandMeet.
Fr.l’engagement,l’obligation; Ger.die Verabredung.
Enlist.SignWorkandSoldier.
Fr.enrôler; Ger.sich anwerben lassen.
Enough
EnoughorFullin general sense (Levelling off a full measure). Hold out left O hand, back to left, and across the top from right to left pass the flat palm of the open right hand. Sometimes addStrong, to meanPlenty. SeeEaten enough.
Fr.assez; Ger.genug.
Enter
EnterorCome into. Hold out hollow left, back up, and pass compressed right hand under and beyond.
Fr.entrer; Ger.eintreten.
Equal
Equal,Even,Same,Too,Also(Even race). Hold G hands in front of breast, side by side, backs up, pointing to front, about two inches apart; push them forward together and a little up in a sweep. A much-used sign. CompareRace,Parallel,Marry, andMate.
Fr.égal,le même; Ger.gleich,egal,genau so.
EraseorAnnul. SignWrongandWipe out. SeeRub it out.
Fr.effacer; Ger.auslöschen,ausstreichen.
Escape.SeeFree.
EvenorSame. SeeEqual.
Evening.SignNightandLittle of. (C) SeeEarly evening.
Fr.le soir; Ger.der Abend.
Ever.SeeAlways.
EvilorSin. SignWorkandBad.
Evil Eye
Evil Eye.Close all fingers of right hand, except index and little finger; to point these at any one means “You have the Evil Eye.” In Italy this is an insult. (Pop.) In France it means “Shame on you,” or “I put you to shame.” (Pop.)
Fr.la main à corne; Ger.das Hexenauge.
ExceptorUnless. SeeBut.
Excessive
Excessive,Too much,Unjust,Too(Extremely, piled up). With right palm down, make a succession of curves, marking stages each higher than the last, beginning very low; then finish by swinging both hands, palm down, away up and forward. (Sheeaka.) Or signHeap. Sometimes useEnough.
Fr.excessif,trop; Ger.übermässig,zu viel.
Exchange.SeeTrade.
Excite
Excite,Agitate(Heart flutters). SignHeart, then hold the 5 hand near the heart, back to right, pointing upward; raise it a foot shaking the fingers. The Blackfeet use this forGlad, and in most cases among the Cheyennes it implies pleasant excitement.
Fr.exciter; Ger.aufregen.
Excuse.SeeWipe out.
Exist.SeeBe.
Expect.SeeHope.
Explain.SeeDescribe.
Exterminate
Exterminate,Annihilate,Crush,Destroy, etc. (Crushed and wiped out). Drop flat right on flat left, palm to palm, grind them together, then brush the right over the left tips, to front and beyond. CompareWipe out.
Fr.exterminer; Ger.vernichten.