GGallopGallop.SignRide, then hold out flat hands, palm to palm, right in advance; work them up and down together, the tips describing vertical curves. CompareFastandWork.Fr.galoper; Ger.galoppieren.GambleGamble.Hold the hands out level, six inches apart; swing to left and right simultaneously, in easy curves down and up, keeping them near each other as though swinging a tom tom. CompareDriveandHerd.Fr.jouer; Ger.spielen.GapGap,Gorge, orMountain Pass. SignMountains, then hold out left L hand, thumb pointing to left and upward, pass flat right between, touching at bottom.Fr.le défilé; Ger.die Kluft,die Schlucht.Garden.Strike down with right G as inHere, but in several directions, then addPlantandEat.Fr.le jardin; Ger.der Garten.Gather.SeeTogether.Generous.SignHeartandBig; or,Heart,Pities.Fr.généreux; Ger.groszmütig,freigiebig.Gentle.SeeKind.Gently.SeeEasy.GetGetorObtain(That is, he gets, or obtains). Reach out left hand, back up; then with right hand, grasp something on top of it; then close and draw back the right. If it is the first person whogets, finish by drawing the hand toward oneself. Sometimes omit left hand.Fr.obtenir; Ger.erlangen,erhalten.Get well.SeeRecover.GhostGhost,Soul, orSpirit.Bring right G hand in front of centre of body, pointing down; then draw it upward, as though drawing the forefinger out of the mouth, upward and to the front and at the same time exhale a breath. (Scott.) The Cheyennes signBig eyes(as in Owl), and shaking the hands at the same time. SeeSpirit.Fr.l’esprit; Ger.der Geist.Gift.Hold left hand, hollow up; with right hand pick an imaginary object out of the left; carry it forward, at the same time turning right hand flat, palm up, and fingers pointing down and forward. Or, signGiveandFree(2nd).Fr.le cadeau; Ger.das Geschenk.Girl(Woman sprout). SignFemale,Young.Fr.la fille; Ger.das Mädchen.GiveGive.Hold out flat right, back to right, shoulder high; swing it out and down.Fr.donner; Ger.geben.Give you.Swing the hand from the person giving toward you. This, with the sign below, shows the beginning of a conjugation.Give meGive me.Bring the flat right hand well out in front of body, about height of neck, back of hand nearly to left, lower edge nearest to body, pointing upward; draw the hand in toward the body and a little down; at the same time, bend the hand and the wrist so the fingers touch the chest. CompareTell meandHalf-Breed.Fr.donnez moi; Ger.geben Sie mir.Give it up.SeeAbandon.Give up,Lose hope, orDiscouraged. SeeSorrow.Glad,Pleasant,Happy, orMerry(Sunshine in the heart). SignHeartandDay.Fr.heureux; Ger.froh,glücklich.GlitterGlitterorShining(The mirror signal). Hold out the L hand with index pointing forward, back up. Rotate with a flash, or jerk so the thumb is upright and back to its original pose. Do this once or twice. SeeCourtingandSweetheart.Fr.étinceler; Ger.glitzern.Gloomy,Cross, orSullen(Clouds close). SignClouds, then draw them down near head. (C) Or, signThinkingandBad. CompareCrossandAngry.Fr.sombre; Ger.finster,trübe.GloryorFame. SignAll,Good,Know. SeeFamous.Fr.la gloire; Ger.der Ruhm.GlowGlow,Splendor,Wonderful(Spread in the sky). Hold up both 5 hands, palms forward, pointing up, at arm’s length, nearly level; raise up very high and at the same time spread widely. A much-used and very plastic sign. May sometimes meanWeather.Fr.la splendeur; Ger.das Glühen,die Pracht.GoGo,Went, orTravel. Hold flat right hand, back to right, breast high, pointing to front and down; swing it up and out till the fingers point forward and upward. Often combined withArrive there.Fr.aller; Ger.gehen.GoingGoing.Hold up right G, palm forward; move it forward in short pushes.Fr.allant; Ger.gehend.Go awayGo away,Go ahead,Go farther(Imperative). Hold flat right hand in front of body, palm forward, fingers upright; move the hand to front in a slight curve to right; repeat once or twice. SeeBegin.Fr.allez!Ger.gehen Sie!GoatGoat.SignHorns, with the straight G fingers on each side of head, andBeard. Sometimes omitHorns, signing onlyBeard.Fr.la chèvre; Ger.die Ziege.God(The Great Mystery). SignMedicineandGreat.Fr.Dieu; Ger.Gott.Gold.SignMoneyandYellow, orHardandYellow.ForGold coinsign,Chief,Money.Fr.l’or; Ger.das Gold.Gone.SeeAbsent.GoodGood,All right,Level,Fair,Just(Level with the heart). Hold the flat extended right hand, back up, level, touching the left breast; swing the hand briskly out to front and slightly up in a curve.Fr.bon; Ger.gut.Good-bye.Hold right hand flat, palm down, pointing forward horizontally at height of head and shake the hand up and down by wrist action. A whiteman’s sign recently adopted by Indians.Fr.adieu,au revoir; Ger.lebe wohl!Good-morning.SignDayandGood.Fr.bonjour; Ger.guten Morgen.Goose.SignBird, moving the wing hands slowly; hold both flat hands low, side by side, a little apart, backs up; push them down sharply a few inches, for flat feet. Sometimes also make thehonksound.Fr.l’oie; Ger.die Gans.Gorge.SeeGap.Gossip.SeeTelltale.Grain, of any kind. Hold both hands hollow together, as inBowl; shake, then point to the hollow of the left with right G. (Sheeaka.) The exact kind must bespecified. In Cheyenne,WheatisBreadandSow;OatsisHorse,Eat,Sow.Fr.le grain; Ger.das Getreide.Grandchild.With the flat right, pat one’s own back where the baby is carried. Among the Cheyennes, only the grandmother uses this.Grand Coup.SeeCount Coup.Grandfather.SignOldandFather.GrandfatherGrandfather(Father once removed). SignFather, then hold curved left hand in front of body, palm in; and on outer side make the signFatheragain. ForGreat grandfather, repeat the sign forFatheronce more. ForAncestors, many times. (Crow signs given me by La Forge.)Fr.le grandpère; Ger.der Groszvater.Grandmother.As above, but useMothersign. (LaF.)Grandmother.SignOld,Mother.Fr.la grand-mère; Ger.die Groszmutter.Grasp.SeeKeep.GrassGrass.Hold both hands low, palms up; turn all fingers upward straight and swing hands slightly apart. ForGrass growing, raise the hands a little. CompareChildren.Fr.l’herbe,le gazon; Ger.das Gras,der Rasen.Gratitude.UseThank yousign. Or else raise the flat right hand, palm forward and face high; draw it downward in a sweep several times as though stroking the other person’s breast. For emphasis use both hands.Fr.la reconnaissance; Ger.die Dankbarkeit.Grave.Hold out both flat hands, thumbs up, six inches apart, pointing level forward; draw them back level to you, signDie; then hold out left flat hand as before and slap on it two or three times with the flat right, forcover up.Fr.le tombeau; Ger.das Grab.GreatGreat.Hold out the slightly curved 5 hands in front of breast, few inches apart, palms toward each other, pointing to front; separate hands the right to the right and up a little and near the body; the left to the left and down a little and farther away. CompareBigandWide. Sometimes useMuchorHigh.Fr.grand; Ger.grosz.Greater than.SignAhead,Great. So alsoLess thanwould beBehind,Small.Fr.plus grand que; Ger.gröszer als.Grief.SeeSorrow.Grieve.SignHeart,Down. SeeGive upandMourn.Fr.se chagriner,pleurer; Ger.trauern.Ground.SeeLand.GrouseGrouseorPrairie Chicken. SignBirdand show size; then with right hand low, palm up, fingers closed except first curved up like neck, imitate forward walking. (Sioux.) SignBirdthen indicate fast wing beats and whirring. (Blackfoot.) SignBirdandTail cut off. (Cheyenne.)Fr.la gelinotte; Ger.das Waldhuhn.GrowGrow,Become, orTurn into. Hold right G hand low, back down, index finger pointing upward, in front of body; raise the hand by gentle jerks.Fr.pousser,croître,devenir; Ger.wachsen,werden.Guide(Verb). (Show trail and Lead.) Point with right index forward and downward; then addLead. (Sheeaka.)Fr.conduire; Ger.führen,leiten.GuideGuide(Noun). Hold up left 5 hand, little finger forward, and ahead of the right G, all moved forward in easy swings.Fr.le guide; Ger.der Führer.Gun.Make the motion of holding and aiming a gun; then addFire-off. ForRifle, add the working of the lever.Fr.le fusil,la carabine; Ger.das Gewehr.Gun, i.e.,Shot-gun, signGun, then clasp the hands twice and hold up two fingers. SeeRevolver.Fr.le fusil de chasse; Ger.die Flinte.Gun-fire.SeeFire.Gun-powder.SignGunandPowder.Fr.la poudre à canon; Ger.das Schiesspulver.
Gallop
Gallop.SignRide, then hold out flat hands, palm to palm, right in advance; work them up and down together, the tips describing vertical curves. CompareFastandWork.
Fr.galoper; Ger.galoppieren.
Gamble
Gamble.Hold the hands out level, six inches apart; swing to left and right simultaneously, in easy curves down and up, keeping them near each other as though swinging a tom tom. CompareDriveandHerd.
Fr.jouer; Ger.spielen.
Gap
Gap,Gorge, orMountain Pass. SignMountains, then hold out left L hand, thumb pointing to left and upward, pass flat right between, touching at bottom.
Fr.le défilé; Ger.die Kluft,die Schlucht.
Garden.Strike down with right G as inHere, but in several directions, then addPlantandEat.
Fr.le jardin; Ger.der Garten.
Gather.SeeTogether.
Generous.SignHeartandBig; or,Heart,Pities.
Fr.généreux; Ger.groszmütig,freigiebig.
Gentle.SeeKind.
Gently.SeeEasy.
Get
GetorObtain(That is, he gets, or obtains). Reach out left hand, back up; then with right hand, grasp something on top of it; then close and draw back the right. If it is the first person whogets, finish by drawing the hand toward oneself. Sometimes omit left hand.
Fr.obtenir; Ger.erlangen,erhalten.
Get well.SeeRecover.
Ghost
Ghost,Soul, orSpirit.Bring right G hand in front of centre of body, pointing down; then draw it upward, as though drawing the forefinger out of the mouth, upward and to the front and at the same time exhale a breath. (Scott.) The Cheyennes signBig eyes(as in Owl), and shaking the hands at the same time. SeeSpirit.
Fr.l’esprit; Ger.der Geist.
Gift.Hold left hand, hollow up; with right hand pick an imaginary object out of the left; carry it forward, at the same time turning right hand flat, palm up, and fingers pointing down and forward. Or, signGiveandFree(2nd).
Fr.le cadeau; Ger.das Geschenk.
Girl(Woman sprout). SignFemale,Young.
Fr.la fille; Ger.das Mädchen.
Give
Give.Hold out flat right, back to right, shoulder high; swing it out and down.
Fr.donner; Ger.geben.
Give you.Swing the hand from the person giving toward you. This, with the sign below, shows the beginning of a conjugation.
Give me
Give me.Bring the flat right hand well out in front of body, about height of neck, back of hand nearly to left, lower edge nearest to body, pointing upward; draw the hand in toward the body and a little down; at the same time, bend the hand and the wrist so the fingers touch the chest. CompareTell meandHalf-Breed.
Fr.donnez moi; Ger.geben Sie mir.
Give it up.SeeAbandon.
Give up,Lose hope, orDiscouraged. SeeSorrow.
Glad,Pleasant,Happy, orMerry(Sunshine in the heart). SignHeartandDay.
Fr.heureux; Ger.froh,glücklich.
Glitter
GlitterorShining(The mirror signal). Hold out the L hand with index pointing forward, back up. Rotate with a flash, or jerk so the thumb is upright and back to its original pose. Do this once or twice. SeeCourtingandSweetheart.
Fr.étinceler; Ger.glitzern.
Gloomy,Cross, orSullen(Clouds close). SignClouds, then draw them down near head. (C) Or, signThinkingandBad. CompareCrossandAngry.
Fr.sombre; Ger.finster,trübe.
GloryorFame. SignAll,Good,Know. SeeFamous.
Fr.la gloire; Ger.der Ruhm.
Glow
Glow,Splendor,Wonderful(Spread in the sky). Hold up both 5 hands, palms forward, pointing up, at arm’s length, nearly level; raise up very high and at the same time spread widely. A much-used and very plastic sign. May sometimes meanWeather.
Fr.la splendeur; Ger.das Glühen,die Pracht.
Go
Go,Went, orTravel. Hold flat right hand, back to right, breast high, pointing to front and down; swing it up and out till the fingers point forward and upward. Often combined withArrive there.
Fr.aller; Ger.gehen.
Going
Going.Hold up right G, palm forward; move it forward in short pushes.
Fr.allant; Ger.gehend.
Go away
Go away,Go ahead,Go farther(Imperative). Hold flat right hand in front of body, palm forward, fingers upright; move the hand to front in a slight curve to right; repeat once or twice. SeeBegin.
Fr.allez!Ger.gehen Sie!
Goat
Goat.SignHorns, with the straight G fingers on each side of head, andBeard. Sometimes omitHorns, signing onlyBeard.
Fr.la chèvre; Ger.die Ziege.
God(The Great Mystery). SignMedicineandGreat.
Fr.Dieu; Ger.Gott.
Gold.SignMoneyandYellow, orHardandYellow.
ForGold coinsign,Chief,Money.
Fr.l’or; Ger.das Gold.
Gone.SeeAbsent.
Good
Good,All right,Level,Fair,Just(Level with the heart). Hold the flat extended right hand, back up, level, touching the left breast; swing the hand briskly out to front and slightly up in a curve.
Fr.bon; Ger.gut.
Good-bye.Hold right hand flat, palm down, pointing forward horizontally at height of head and shake the hand up and down by wrist action. A whiteman’s sign recently adopted by Indians.
Fr.adieu,au revoir; Ger.lebe wohl!
Good-morning.SignDayandGood.
Fr.bonjour; Ger.guten Morgen.
Goose.SignBird, moving the wing hands slowly; hold both flat hands low, side by side, a little apart, backs up; push them down sharply a few inches, for flat feet. Sometimes also make thehonksound.
Fr.l’oie; Ger.die Gans.
Gorge.SeeGap.
Gossip.SeeTelltale.
Grain, of any kind. Hold both hands hollow together, as inBowl; shake, then point to the hollow of the left with right G. (Sheeaka.) The exact kind must bespecified. In Cheyenne,WheatisBreadandSow;OatsisHorse,Eat,Sow.
Fr.le grain; Ger.das Getreide.
Grandchild.With the flat right, pat one’s own back where the baby is carried. Among the Cheyennes, only the grandmother uses this.
Grand Coup.SeeCount Coup.
Grandfather.SignOldandFather.
Grandfather
Grandfather(Father once removed). SignFather, then hold curved left hand in front of body, palm in; and on outer side make the signFatheragain. ForGreat grandfather, repeat the sign forFatheronce more. ForAncestors, many times. (Crow signs given me by La Forge.)
Fr.le grandpère; Ger.der Groszvater.
Grandmother.As above, but useMothersign. (LaF.)
Grandmother.SignOld,Mother.
Fr.la grand-mère; Ger.die Groszmutter.
Grasp.SeeKeep.
Grass
Grass.Hold both hands low, palms up; turn all fingers upward straight and swing hands slightly apart. ForGrass growing, raise the hands a little. CompareChildren.
Fr.l’herbe,le gazon; Ger.das Gras,der Rasen.
Gratitude.UseThank yousign. Or else raise the flat right hand, palm forward and face high; draw it downward in a sweep several times as though stroking the other person’s breast. For emphasis use both hands.
Fr.la reconnaissance; Ger.die Dankbarkeit.
Grave.Hold out both flat hands, thumbs up, six inches apart, pointing level forward; draw them back level to you, signDie; then hold out left flat hand as before and slap on it two or three times with the flat right, forcover up.
Fr.le tombeau; Ger.das Grab.
Great
Great.Hold out the slightly curved 5 hands in front of breast, few inches apart, palms toward each other, pointing to front; separate hands the right to the right and up a little and near the body; the left to the left and down a little and farther away. CompareBigandWide. Sometimes useMuchorHigh.
Fr.grand; Ger.grosz.
Greater than.SignAhead,Great. So alsoLess thanwould beBehind,Small.
Fr.plus grand que; Ger.gröszer als.
Grief.SeeSorrow.
Grieve.SignHeart,Down. SeeGive upandMourn.
Fr.se chagriner,pleurer; Ger.trauern.
Ground.SeeLand.
Grouse
GrouseorPrairie Chicken. SignBirdand show size; then with right hand low, palm up, fingers closed except first curved up like neck, imitate forward walking. (Sioux.) SignBirdthen indicate fast wing beats and whirring. (Blackfoot.) SignBirdandTail cut off. (Cheyenne.)
Fr.la gelinotte; Ger.das Waldhuhn.
Grow
Grow,Become, orTurn into. Hold right G hand low, back down, index finger pointing upward, in front of body; raise the hand by gentle jerks.
Fr.pousser,croître,devenir; Ger.wachsen,werden.
Guide(Verb). (Show trail and Lead.) Point with right index forward and downward; then addLead. (Sheeaka.)
Fr.conduire; Ger.führen,leiten.
Guide
Guide(Noun). Hold up left 5 hand, little finger forward, and ahead of the right G, all moved forward in easy swings.
Fr.le guide; Ger.der Führer.
Gun.Make the motion of holding and aiming a gun; then addFire-off. ForRifle, add the working of the lever.
Fr.le fusil,la carabine; Ger.das Gewehr.
Gun, i.e.,Shot-gun, signGun, then clasp the hands twice and hold up two fingers. SeeRevolver.
Fr.le fusil de chasse; Ger.die Flinte.
Gun-fire.SeeFire.
Gun-powder.SignGunandPowder.
Fr.la poudre à canon; Ger.das Schiesspulver.