III,Me,Myself,Mine. ForItouch the centre of the breast with the right thumb extended, other fingers closed. This and the next are used indiscriminately by the Cheyennes.Meis touching the breast with point of compressed fingers.My.Lay the A hand on the forehead, palm to left, thumb pointing up; swing it forward and down level; that is, signPossession, assuming the first person.Fr.je,moi,mien; Ger.Ich,mich,mein.Ice.SignWaterandHard. Sometimes addCold.Fr.la glace; Ger.das Eis.Icicle.SignWaterandCold; then hold up right G, pointing downward and dropped a little.Fr.le glaçon; Ger.der Eiszapfen.IdeaIdea,Thought(Thought expressed). Lay the right G on the forehead, pointing up, palm to left; swing it down to horizontal at mouth level, then push it straight forward and up in a curve. CompareSo.Fr.l’idée;la pensée; Ger.die Idee,der Gedanke.Idle.SignWorkandNot.Fr.paresseux; Ger.müszig.IfIf,Doubt,Undecided,Perhaps, orMaybe so(Heart looking two ways). Lay the right V hand on the heart, pointed down and to left front; rotate the hand on the wrist so the back is alternately up and out. Whenmany emotions (i.e.,perplexity) are to be expressed, use all fingers extended. SeeConsider.Fr.si,peut-être; Ger.wenn,ob,vielleicht.Ignorance(I don’t know). Shrug shoulders and raise one flat hand. (Pop.) Or, signKnow,Not. CompareForget.Fr.l’ignorance; Ger.die Unwissenheit.Imperative Mood.Sign the verb in question, then strike the flat right, palm down, onto the flat left, palm up. Or addPush. (C)Impossible.SignCanandNot. See alsoCannot. The Cheyennes useTrue,Not.Fr.impossible; Ger.unmöglich.Imprison.SeeArrest.InIn,Inside, orWithin(To put into). Make a semicircle of the left arm held out level; then drop the compressed right hand downward between the left and the body.Outsidebegins the same, but the right drops outside the left.InsideInside, i.e.,in a Hole. Make a horizontal ring of the left index and thumb, then drop the right index down into it. For a house, useEnter.Fr.en,dedans,dans; Ger.in,drin,im Innern.Incite.SignPush,Talk, andGo; that is, try to talk into going.Fr.inciter; Ger.anreizen.Increase.Hold out the flat hands, palm to palm, well apart at same height; separate them more and more in slight jerks; or, if it is more explicit, do it with the flat hands one above the other. SeeAdd to. CompareDecrease.Fr.augmenter; Ger.vermehren,vergröszern.IndianIndian.With the tips of right flat fingers, rub the side of the flat left held out back up, in short strokes; meaning reddish, because all men’s hands out west are red at this place. CompareSmooth.IndianIndian.Indicate the eagle feather at back of head. (Sheeaka.) Or signManandRed. (Scott.)Fr.l’Indien; Ger.der Indianer.Indian TribeorNation. Give theTribalsign and addAllin each case.IndianTribal signs:ApacheApache.(Probably using the notched-stick fiddle). Draw the right G fingerup and downalong the left G several times, from near the point to the base, a foot long each stroke. ComparePoor.Arapahoe.With all fingers of right hand compressed so the points are together, tap the left breast, that is, signMother. As Sherman Coolidge tells me, the Arapahoes claim theirs to have been the mother of all tribes. In the south, the sign is rub the side of the nose with the right G, referring to their one-time salutation of nose-rubbing.Banak.Sign forLodgeandBad. (C)Blackfeet.Sign forMoccasinandBlack.Caddo.Draw the right N over the left N from the tips back to the knuckles (because they wore pants). (Father Isadore.)CheyennesCheyennes.(Perhaps meaning “striped tail,” because they used turkey feathers; or, more likely, “finger-choppers,” because they chopped their fingers when in mourning.)Hold out left G finger and cut it with the edge of the right G finger drawn across it once or twice, each time further up the hand. CompareOftenandAnd all the time.Chippewa.SeeOjibwa.Comanche.Sign forSnake, pushing the hand forward. CompareShoshoni. (Seger.)Cree.SignRabbit,People; but usually omitPeople.Crow.SignBirdslowly. Sometimes only one hand. Or hold S hand, palm forward, at brow for “Pompadour Indians.”Dakota.SeeSioux.Flathead.SeeKoutenais.Gros Ventre.SignBig Belly.Hopi.SignDanceandSnake.Kiowa.With the tips of the flat right, palm up, back to left, describe an upright ellipse near the right ear; because they used to cut their hair on that side to show the ear ornaments or ear painted red.Koutenai.Sign forWhite-tailed Deer. (C)Mandan(Tattooed chin and cheek). With right hand compressed so all tips touch, tap the chin and jaw. (C)Navaho(Makers of striped blankets). Sign forWork,Blanket, andStriped.Nez Percé(Pierced nose). Pass index of right G hand level under nose from right to left. CompareHear.OjibwaorChippewa(Living in the Woods). SignTreeandPeople; or signPaddle,People. (Blackfoot.)Osage(Shaved heads). Rub the flat right hand, palm out, over the side of the head and down, as though shaving the head; the little finger being the sharp edge.Paiute.SignRabbit,Robe.Pawnee(Wolf). Hold up the right V hand, palm forward, near right ear; then swing finger-tips forward.Piegan.Rotate half closed hand, palm in, near right cheek.Pueblo.SignTwo Quivers; that is,Arrow,Two; then drop compressed left once or twice into C right hand.Sac(Shaved heads). Same asOsagesign.ShoshoniorSnake Indians. Sign forSnakeand sometimes addBad,Lodge.Sioux(Cut throats). Draw the right G finger across the throat.Uncapapa(From their position in camp). Sign forSiouxandEncamp, then make an incomplete circle with index fingers and thumbs; then, holding left in pose, strike last joint of index with tip of right G and similarly right index with tip of left G. (C)Ute.SignBlackandRed.Wichita(Tattooed rings). With right G finger tap the forehead in a circle.Yankton.Sign forSiouxandNez Percé. (C)Indian Agent.SeeAgent.Indifference(None of my business). Both hands held down by the thighs; at the same time a shrug of the shoulders. (Pop.)Fr.l’indifférence; Ger.die Gleichgültigkeit.Infantry.SignSoldiersandWalk.Fr.l’infanterie; Ger.die Fusztruppen,die Infanterie.InferiorInferior(To one). Hold up both G fingers, the one representing the inferior much lower.InferiorInferior(To many). For several inferiors use the 5 hand to represent them, while the G of the other hand up high represents the superior.Fr.inférieur; Ger.untergeordnet.Inhabit.SeeDwell.Injure,Doing evil to. If with reference to another person, make sign forWorkandBad. If with reference to one’s self, make signsDo,to me,Bad.Fr.faire du mal; Ger.beschädigen.Innocent.SeeClean-handed.In order that.SeeSo that.Inside.SeeIn.Interrogate.SeeQuestionorQuery.Intervene.SeeCome between.Invalid.SeeSick one.Investigating.SeeSearching; alsoConsider.Iron.SeeMetal.IslandIsland(Round thing surrounded by water). SignLand, then with L hands make a horizontal circle; hold left hand in pose, signWaterwith right hand; then compressit and draw it point down around the circle just made. CompareLake.Fr.l’île; Ger.die Insel.Itching.Scratch the left palm with nail of the right G index; or else the thigh.Fr.la démangeaison; Ger.das Jucken.
I
I,Me,Myself,Mine. ForItouch the centre of the breast with the right thumb extended, other fingers closed. This and the next are used indiscriminately by the Cheyennes.
Meis touching the breast with point of compressed fingers.My.Lay the A hand on the forehead, palm to left, thumb pointing up; swing it forward and down level; that is, signPossession, assuming the first person.Fr.je,moi,mien; Ger.Ich,mich,mein.
Meis touching the breast with point of compressed fingers.
My.Lay the A hand on the forehead, palm to left, thumb pointing up; swing it forward and down level; that is, signPossession, assuming the first person.
Fr.je,moi,mien; Ger.Ich,mich,mein.
Ice.SignWaterandHard. Sometimes addCold.
Fr.la glace; Ger.das Eis.
Icicle.SignWaterandCold; then hold up right G, pointing downward and dropped a little.
Fr.le glaçon; Ger.der Eiszapfen.
Idea
Idea,Thought(Thought expressed). Lay the right G on the forehead, pointing up, palm to left; swing it down to horizontal at mouth level, then push it straight forward and up in a curve. CompareSo.
Fr.l’idée;la pensée; Ger.die Idee,der Gedanke.
Idle.SignWorkandNot.
Fr.paresseux; Ger.müszig.
If
If,Doubt,Undecided,Perhaps, orMaybe so(Heart looking two ways). Lay the right V hand on the heart, pointed down and to left front; rotate the hand on the wrist so the back is alternately up and out. Whenmany emotions (i.e.,perplexity) are to be expressed, use all fingers extended. SeeConsider.
Fr.si,peut-être; Ger.wenn,ob,vielleicht.
Ignorance(I don’t know). Shrug shoulders and raise one flat hand. (Pop.) Or, signKnow,Not. CompareForget.
Fr.l’ignorance; Ger.die Unwissenheit.
Imperative Mood.Sign the verb in question, then strike the flat right, palm down, onto the flat left, palm up. Or addPush. (C)
Impossible.SignCanandNot. See alsoCannot. The Cheyennes useTrue,Not.
Fr.impossible; Ger.unmöglich.
Imprison.SeeArrest.
In
In,Inside, orWithin(To put into). Make a semicircle of the left arm held out level; then drop the compressed right hand downward between the left and the body.Outsidebegins the same, but the right drops outside the left.
Inside
Inside, i.e.,in a Hole. Make a horizontal ring of the left index and thumb, then drop the right index down into it. For a house, useEnter.
Fr.en,dedans,dans; Ger.in,drin,im Innern.
Incite.SignPush,Talk, andGo; that is, try to talk into going.
Fr.inciter; Ger.anreizen.
Increase.Hold out the flat hands, palm to palm, well apart at same height; separate them more and more in slight jerks; or, if it is more explicit, do it with the flat hands one above the other. SeeAdd to. CompareDecrease.
Fr.augmenter; Ger.vermehren,vergröszern.
Indian
Indian.With the tips of right flat fingers, rub the side of the flat left held out back up, in short strokes; meaning reddish, because all men’s hands out west are red at this place. CompareSmooth.
Indian
Indian.Indicate the eagle feather at back of head. (Sheeaka.) Or signManandRed. (Scott.)
Fr.l’Indien; Ger.der Indianer.
Indian TribeorNation. Give theTribalsign and addAllin each case.
IndianTribal signs:
ApacheApache.(Probably using the notched-stick fiddle). Draw the right G fingerup and downalong the left G several times, from near the point to the base, a foot long each stroke. ComparePoor.Arapahoe.With all fingers of right hand compressed so the points are together, tap the left breast, that is, signMother. As Sherman Coolidge tells me, the Arapahoes claim theirs to have been the mother of all tribes. In the south, the sign is rub the side of the nose with the right G, referring to their one-time salutation of nose-rubbing.Banak.Sign forLodgeandBad. (C)Blackfeet.Sign forMoccasinandBlack.Caddo.Draw the right N over the left N from the tips back to the knuckles (because they wore pants). (Father Isadore.)CheyennesCheyennes.(Perhaps meaning “striped tail,” because they used turkey feathers; or, more likely, “finger-choppers,” because they chopped their fingers when in mourning.)Hold out left G finger and cut it with the edge of the right G finger drawn across it once or twice, each time further up the hand. CompareOftenandAnd all the time.Chippewa.SeeOjibwa.Comanche.Sign forSnake, pushing the hand forward. CompareShoshoni. (Seger.)Cree.SignRabbit,People; but usually omitPeople.Crow.SignBirdslowly. Sometimes only one hand. Or hold S hand, palm forward, at brow for “Pompadour Indians.”Dakota.SeeSioux.Flathead.SeeKoutenais.Gros Ventre.SignBig Belly.Hopi.SignDanceandSnake.Kiowa.With the tips of the flat right, palm up, back to left, describe an upright ellipse near the right ear; because they used to cut their hair on that side to show the ear ornaments or ear painted red.Koutenai.Sign forWhite-tailed Deer. (C)Mandan(Tattooed chin and cheek). With right hand compressed so all tips touch, tap the chin and jaw. (C)Navaho(Makers of striped blankets). Sign forWork,Blanket, andStriped.Nez Percé(Pierced nose). Pass index of right G hand level under nose from right to left. CompareHear.OjibwaorChippewa(Living in the Woods). SignTreeandPeople; or signPaddle,People. (Blackfoot.)Osage(Shaved heads). Rub the flat right hand, palm out, over the side of the head and down, as though shaving the head; the little finger being the sharp edge.Paiute.SignRabbit,Robe.Pawnee(Wolf). Hold up the right V hand, palm forward, near right ear; then swing finger-tips forward.Piegan.Rotate half closed hand, palm in, near right cheek.Pueblo.SignTwo Quivers; that is,Arrow,Two; then drop compressed left once or twice into C right hand.Sac(Shaved heads). Same asOsagesign.ShoshoniorSnake Indians. Sign forSnakeand sometimes addBad,Lodge.Sioux(Cut throats). Draw the right G finger across the throat.Uncapapa(From their position in camp). Sign forSiouxandEncamp, then make an incomplete circle with index fingers and thumbs; then, holding left in pose, strike last joint of index with tip of right G and similarly right index with tip of left G. (C)Ute.SignBlackandRed.Wichita(Tattooed rings). With right G finger tap the forehead in a circle.Yankton.Sign forSiouxandNez Percé. (C)
Apache
Apache.(Probably using the notched-stick fiddle). Draw the right G fingerup and downalong the left G several times, from near the point to the base, a foot long each stroke. ComparePoor.
Arapahoe.With all fingers of right hand compressed so the points are together, tap the left breast, that is, signMother. As Sherman Coolidge tells me, the Arapahoes claim theirs to have been the mother of all tribes. In the south, the sign is rub the side of the nose with the right G, referring to their one-time salutation of nose-rubbing.
Banak.Sign forLodgeandBad. (C)
Blackfeet.Sign forMoccasinandBlack.
Caddo.Draw the right N over the left N from the tips back to the knuckles (because they wore pants). (Father Isadore.)
Cheyennes
Cheyennes.(Perhaps meaning “striped tail,” because they used turkey feathers; or, more likely, “finger-choppers,” because they chopped their fingers when in mourning.)Hold out left G finger and cut it with the edge of the right G finger drawn across it once or twice, each time further up the hand. CompareOftenandAnd all the time.
Chippewa.SeeOjibwa.
Comanche.Sign forSnake, pushing the hand forward. CompareShoshoni. (Seger.)
Cree.SignRabbit,People; but usually omitPeople.
Crow.SignBirdslowly. Sometimes only one hand. Or hold S hand, palm forward, at brow for “Pompadour Indians.”
Dakota.SeeSioux.
Flathead.SeeKoutenais.
Gros Ventre.SignBig Belly.
Hopi.SignDanceandSnake.
Kiowa.With the tips of the flat right, palm up, back to left, describe an upright ellipse near the right ear; because they used to cut their hair on that side to show the ear ornaments or ear painted red.
Koutenai.Sign forWhite-tailed Deer. (C)
Mandan(Tattooed chin and cheek). With right hand compressed so all tips touch, tap the chin and jaw. (C)
Navaho(Makers of striped blankets). Sign forWork,Blanket, andStriped.
Nez Percé(Pierced nose). Pass index of right G hand level under nose from right to left. CompareHear.
OjibwaorChippewa(Living in the Woods). SignTreeandPeople; or signPaddle,People. (Blackfoot.)
Osage(Shaved heads). Rub the flat right hand, palm out, over the side of the head and down, as though shaving the head; the little finger being the sharp edge.
Paiute.SignRabbit,Robe.
Pawnee(Wolf). Hold up the right V hand, palm forward, near right ear; then swing finger-tips forward.
Piegan.Rotate half closed hand, palm in, near right cheek.
Pueblo.SignTwo Quivers; that is,Arrow,Two; then drop compressed left once or twice into C right hand.
Sac(Shaved heads). Same asOsagesign.
ShoshoniorSnake Indians. Sign forSnakeand sometimes addBad,Lodge.
Sioux(Cut throats). Draw the right G finger across the throat.
Uncapapa(From their position in camp). Sign forSiouxandEncamp, then make an incomplete circle with index fingers and thumbs; then, holding left in pose, strike last joint of index with tip of right G and similarly right index with tip of left G. (C)
Ute.SignBlackandRed.
Wichita(Tattooed rings). With right G finger tap the forehead in a circle.
Yankton.Sign forSiouxandNez Percé. (C)
Indian Agent.SeeAgent.
Indifference(None of my business). Both hands held down by the thighs; at the same time a shrug of the shoulders. (Pop.)
Fr.l’indifférence; Ger.die Gleichgültigkeit.
Infantry.SignSoldiersandWalk.
Fr.l’infanterie; Ger.die Fusztruppen,die Infanterie.
Inferior
Inferior(To one). Hold up both G fingers, the one representing the inferior much lower.
Inferior
Inferior(To many). For several inferiors use the 5 hand to represent them, while the G of the other hand up high represents the superior.
Fr.inférieur; Ger.untergeordnet.
Inhabit.SeeDwell.
Injure,Doing evil to. If with reference to another person, make sign forWorkandBad. If with reference to one’s self, make signsDo,to me,Bad.
Fr.faire du mal; Ger.beschädigen.
Innocent.SeeClean-handed.
In order that.SeeSo that.
Inside.SeeIn.
Interrogate.SeeQuestionorQuery.
Intervene.SeeCome between.
Invalid.SeeSick one.
Investigating.SeeSearching; alsoConsider.
Iron.SeeMetal.
Island
Island(Round thing surrounded by water). SignLand, then with L hands make a horizontal circle; hold left hand in pose, signWaterwith right hand; then compressit and draw it point down around the circle just made. CompareLake.
Fr.l’île; Ger.die Insel.
Itching.Scratch the left palm with nail of the right G index; or else the thigh.
Fr.la démangeaison; Ger.das Jucken.