RRabbitRabbit.Move the M hand straight to the front, back up and undulating on the wrist, to imitate the rabbit hopping forward; then make V right hand and turn it to look back. (Scott.) The Cheyennes omit the second part of this.Fr.le lapin; Ger.der Hase.RaccoonorCoon. Draw the V hand horizontally across the face and nose. If necessary, also indicateSizeand striped tail.Fr.le raton; Ger.der Waschbär.RaceRace.Move the index fingers forward and up, side by side, as inEqual; but keep them moving a long way forward and upward. CompareParallel,Marry.Fr.la course,le concours; Ger.das Wettrennen,der Wettlauf.Rags,In rags. TouchCoat, addOld; then hold left 5 slightly curved, back up and use ditto right as though to comb out the fingers of left, once or twice.Fr.les guenilles,en loques; Ger.die Lumpen,zerlumpt.Railroad trainorCars. SignFiretwice upward for puffs, then addFast. CompareMotor car.Fr.le train[de chemin de fer]; Ger.der Eisenbahnzug.RailroadRailroad.IndicateTrainas above; then push the right G finger quickly along the back of the left V hand and on beyond. (Sheeaka.)Railroad.SignRoad; then with the two G hands, backs up, indicate rails as inParallel.Railroad.SignHard(i.e., metal); then hold out two G fingers, backs up, six inches apart, and push both together far forward and a little up.Fr.le chemin de fer; Ger.die Eisenbahn.Railroad Station.Make the signs ofRailwayandHouse; adding, if necessary,AlightandAboard.Fr.la gare; Ger.der Bahnhof.RainRain(Falling from clouds). Hold A hands, backs up, opposite forehead, near each other; lower them slightly, mostly by wrist action; at the same time open and separate fingers and thumb so they point downward; repeat.Fr.la pluie; Ger.der Regen.RainbowRainbow.SignRainthen indicate the arch with a slow sweep of the flat right hand, back up, high above head.Fr.l’arc-en-ciel; Ger.der Regenbogen.RankorQuality(Of a soldier.) With the right G, indicate stripes on left arm, or else touch each shoulder for epaulets.RankorQuality. SignChief; then lay upright right G, palm forward, against back of left ditto, as inRising man, sliding the right up and down to various heights.Fr.le rang; Ger.der Rang,die Würde.Rank, What is his?SignChief, Big;Chief, Little;Question. Sometimes omitChief, Little.Fr.quel rang-a-t-il?; Ger.Welchen Rang bekleidet er?Rapid.SeeFast.RapidsRapids.SignRiver,Rock; and pass the right 5 hand, back up, points first, swiftly forward and down, in an up and down waved course.Fr.le rapide; Ger.die Stromschnelle.RashRash(Going forward blind). Hold left hand on eyes and point right G index forward, moving it to front.Fr.imprudent; Ger.unvorsichtig,verwegen.Rattlesnake.SignSnake, then hold right G finger, pointing up, near shoulder, and shake it.Fr.le serpent à sonnettes; Ger.die Klapperschlange.Reach.Arrive there.ReadyReady,Orderly, orArranged. Extend the open hands, palm to palm, a few inches apart, pointing outward and parallel to each other, over toward the left side; lift them both together from the wrists, move toward the right a little and let them come down again; repeat the motion until by stages the hands have been moved over to the right side. (D)Ready.SignAll,Good; or useArranged, or combine them intoArranged,All,Good. SeeArranged.Fr.prêt; Ger.bereit,fertig.Recall to memory.SeeBring back.Receive.Hold out hollow right hand, palm up, half open; draw it back, slightly closing fingers. CompareGive to me.Fr.recevoir; Ger.erhalten.RecoverRecover,Get well,Get all right again,Revive, orSave. Hold right G hand, back up, in front of breast, pointing to left and front; raise the hand with a graceful sweep, at same time turn it back to front and index pointingupward. The actual course of the index tip, if seen from above, is as in the dotted line under the hand.If one is near death by disease, this may be used to denote recovery; if in great danger, this would mean escaped.Fr.se porter mieux,se rétablir; Ger.sich erholen.Recreation.SeePlay.Reduce.SeeDecrease.Reflect.SeeIdeaandConsider.Refuse.SeeWon’t.Religion.SignMedicineandWay.Fr.la religion; Ger.die Religion.Remain.SeeSit.RememberRemember.SignHeart,Know. Or, in popular code, touch the forehead with right G, raise the brows and nod.Remember, I; orUnderstand. Hold right G index upright and grasp it firmly with left hand, face high.Fr.je me souviens; Ger.ich erinnere mich.Remember notRemember not(It slips from my grasp). As above, but let the right G index slip down and out. SeeForget.Fr.je ne me souviens pas; Ger.ich erinnere mich nicht.Remembering.SeeMemories.RepeatRepeat,Again, orBack.Place the finger tips of the compressed right hand on the left palm, as the latter is held in front of the body, back down, and strike once or twice. (Sheeaka. Probably borrowed from Deaf.) CompareOnce,Twice,Often, andMore.Repeat.Hold up right G, chin high, back up, pointing to left and forward; lash down with it like a whip twice or more as best fits in. Sometimes signCome back. CompareAll the time.Fr.répéter; Ger.wiederholen.Reply.SeeAnswer.Request.SeeBeg.Resemble.SeeAlike.Respond.SeeAnswer.Responsible.SignI(or whoever it is),Do,ThatOrMy(orHis)Way. (Seger.) SignCarryandThat(Suggested.)Fr.responsable; Ger.verantwortlich.RestaurantorHotel. Sign forHouseandEat.Fr.le restaurant,l’hôtel; Ger.das Restaurant,das Hotel.RestrainorPrevent. SignHoldandKeep quiet. Sometimes useDo not.Fr.réprimer,empêcher; Ger.zurückhalten,verhindern.Result.SignAfter, Work, See.Fr.le résultat; Ger.das Ergebnis, die Folge.Retreat(Of many). SignCharge, then reverse and withdraw the hands.Retreat(Of one). SignGoing, then turn the G hand palm toward you and draw it back with similar action. (Understood; not established.)Fr.la retraite; Ger.der Rückzug.Reverie.Bow the head, resting the mouth on the A fist. CompareMemories.Fr.la rêverie; Ger.die Träumerei.Revile.SeeBlackguarding.Revive.SeeRecover.Revolver.Sign for drawing from belt behind and present the same, using right G hand, back to right. AddFire-off, if need be. SeeGun.Fr.le pistolet, le revolver; Ger.der Revolver.Rich.SignPossesses, Heap, Money.Fr.riche; Ger.reich.RideRide(To ride an animal). Hold the hands as inHorse, and then move the hands to the front on short vertical curves.Fr.aller à cheval; Ger.reiten.RidgeRidge(Of hills). Hold the A hands touching, thumbs toward face and upright; draw them apart a foot. CompareSoldiersandHill.RidgeRidge.SignHillwith right, then hold 5 out at arm’s length, face high, flat, and bent, so the fingers point to the left; swing it slowly horizontally across to the right. This last seems to mean “lying across the horizon” and appears in several combinations. SeeMirage.Fr.la crête; Ger.der Kamm.Rifle.SeeGun.Right.SeeGood.Rill.SeeCreek.Ring(For finger). Hold up left 5 hand; then with right index and thumb make as though slipping a ring on the ring finger.Fr.la bague; Ger.der Ring.Rising manRising man, orComing man(Man rising to stand on a hill). Hold up left as inHill; lay right G behind or beside it, against the thumb, palm forward, pointing up; push right up until the base of the index is sitting on top of the left; that is, becomesProminent. SeeProminentandFamous.Fr.l’homme qui arrivera; Ger.der Mann der Zukunft.RiverRiver,Big stream, orRunning water. SignWaterthen with tremulous movement draw flat right 4 hand, palm down, from opposite left breast to opposite right; fingers always level and pointing to left. CompareCreekandRill.Fr.la rivière; Ger.der Flusz.RoadRoad(i.e., Highroad; especially between high banks, hills, or fences). Holding the open hands, palm to palm and pointing forward, carry them forward, as if they represented the sides of a road; then addGoingby pushing the flat right hand forward in line between, palm to left, fingers level. (Sheeaka.) Or signWayandWagon.Fr.le chemin,la route; Ger.der Weg,die Landstrasse.Robe.SignCoat; but instead of ending at waist, sweep the hands as low as possible.Fr.la robe; Ger.das Kleid,die Robe.RockorStone.SignHardand sometimes indicate shape. ForStoneaddLump. CompareMetal.Fr.la roche,la pierre; Ger.der Fels,der Stein.Root.First signTreeorGrass, as may be; then point down, place the 5 hands together at the wrists, backs up and level; pointing left to front and left, right to front and right; then move them out and apart.Fr.la racine; Ger.die Wurzel.RopeRope(Trailing after the horse and twisted). SignAfter; then, as right is drawn to rear, make tip of index describe a spiral curve. Commonly omit the left hand.Fr.la corde; Ger.das Seil,der Strick.RoseRose(Flower). Hold the fingers of the left hand straight, little separated, arranged in a circle, back to left and front; in front of body, index finger horizontal and pointing to right and front; with right hand make as though picking berries from the left finger tips. (C)Fr.la rose; Ger.die Rose.Rotten(Meat). Indicate smell, etc.Fr.pourri; Ger.faul,verfault.Rub it out,Erase,Annul,Never mind,As you were. Put middle finger of right hand to tongue, then rub left palm and wipe the palm with under side of right forearm. (Sheeaka. A white man’s sign now understood by Indians.)Or, if afar, simply shake the flat right hand quickly and vigorously from side to side as it is held palm forward in front of the face. (Pop.) CompareEasyandErase.Fr.effacer; Ger.auswischen, “Schwamm drüber!”RumorRumor(A little flying thing). With flat 5 right hand, palm down, shoulder high, swing out level from throat to right, working all the fingers as in playing piano. (A Paiute sign, given me by Mary Austin.) A combination ofWindandFly.Fr.la rumeur; Ger.das Gerücht.Run.Swing the fists at each side as in running.Fr.courir; Ger.laufen.Run against.SeeQuandary.Run awayRun away,Slip away,Clear out,Sneak(Run under cover). Hold out flat left hand, palm down; push right G hand under it quickly and sinuously. Sometimes preface it by laying one hand over the eyes. CompareJealous.Fr.filer,se sauver; Ger.ausreiszen,weglaufen.Running Water.SeeRiver.
Rabbit
Rabbit.Move the M hand straight to the front, back up and undulating on the wrist, to imitate the rabbit hopping forward; then make V right hand and turn it to look back. (Scott.) The Cheyennes omit the second part of this.
Fr.le lapin; Ger.der Hase.
RaccoonorCoon. Draw the V hand horizontally across the face and nose. If necessary, also indicateSizeand striped tail.
Fr.le raton; Ger.der Waschbär.
Race
Race.Move the index fingers forward and up, side by side, as inEqual; but keep them moving a long way forward and upward. CompareParallel,Marry.
Fr.la course,le concours; Ger.das Wettrennen,der Wettlauf.
Rags,In rags. TouchCoat, addOld; then hold left 5 slightly curved, back up and use ditto right as though to comb out the fingers of left, once or twice.
Fr.les guenilles,en loques; Ger.die Lumpen,zerlumpt.
Railroad trainorCars. SignFiretwice upward for puffs, then addFast. CompareMotor car.
Fr.le train[de chemin de fer]; Ger.der Eisenbahnzug.
Railroad
Railroad.IndicateTrainas above; then push the right G finger quickly along the back of the left V hand and on beyond. (Sheeaka.)
Railroad.SignRoad; then with the two G hands, backs up, indicate rails as inParallel.
Railroad.SignHard(i.e., metal); then hold out two G fingers, backs up, six inches apart, and push both together far forward and a little up.
Fr.le chemin de fer; Ger.die Eisenbahn.
Railroad Station.Make the signs ofRailwayandHouse; adding, if necessary,AlightandAboard.
Fr.la gare; Ger.der Bahnhof.
Rain
Rain(Falling from clouds). Hold A hands, backs up, opposite forehead, near each other; lower them slightly, mostly by wrist action; at the same time open and separate fingers and thumb so they point downward; repeat.
Fr.la pluie; Ger.der Regen.
Rainbow
Rainbow.SignRainthen indicate the arch with a slow sweep of the flat right hand, back up, high above head.
Fr.l’arc-en-ciel; Ger.der Regenbogen.
RankorQuality(Of a soldier.) With the right G, indicate stripes on left arm, or else touch each shoulder for epaulets.
RankorQuality. SignChief; then lay upright right G, palm forward, against back of left ditto, as inRising man, sliding the right up and down to various heights.
Fr.le rang; Ger.der Rang,die Würde.
Rank, What is his?SignChief, Big;Chief, Little;Question. Sometimes omitChief, Little.
Fr.quel rang-a-t-il?; Ger.Welchen Rang bekleidet er?
Rapid.SeeFast.
Rapids
Rapids.SignRiver,Rock; and pass the right 5 hand, back up, points first, swiftly forward and down, in an up and down waved course.
Fr.le rapide; Ger.die Stromschnelle.
Rash
Rash(Going forward blind). Hold left hand on eyes and point right G index forward, moving it to front.
Fr.imprudent; Ger.unvorsichtig,verwegen.
Rattlesnake.SignSnake, then hold right G finger, pointing up, near shoulder, and shake it.
Fr.le serpent à sonnettes; Ger.die Klapperschlange.
Reach.Arrive there.
Ready
Ready,Orderly, orArranged. Extend the open hands, palm to palm, a few inches apart, pointing outward and parallel to each other, over toward the left side; lift them both together from the wrists, move toward the right a little and let them come down again; repeat the motion until by stages the hands have been moved over to the right side. (D)
Ready.SignAll,Good; or useArranged, or combine them intoArranged,All,Good. SeeArranged.
Fr.prêt; Ger.bereit,fertig.
Recall to memory.SeeBring back.
Receive.Hold out hollow right hand, palm up, half open; draw it back, slightly closing fingers. CompareGive to me.
Fr.recevoir; Ger.erhalten.
Recover
Recover,Get well,Get all right again,Revive, orSave. Hold right G hand, back up, in front of breast, pointing to left and front; raise the hand with a graceful sweep, at same time turn it back to front and index pointingupward. The actual course of the index tip, if seen from above, is as in the dotted line under the hand.
If one is near death by disease, this may be used to denote recovery; if in great danger, this would mean escaped.
Fr.se porter mieux,se rétablir; Ger.sich erholen.
Recreation.SeePlay.
Reduce.SeeDecrease.
Reflect.SeeIdeaandConsider.
Refuse.SeeWon’t.
Religion.SignMedicineandWay.
Fr.la religion; Ger.die Religion.
Remain.SeeSit.
Remember
Remember.SignHeart,Know. Or, in popular code, touch the forehead with right G, raise the brows and nod.
Remember, I; orUnderstand. Hold right G index upright and grasp it firmly with left hand, face high.
Fr.je me souviens; Ger.ich erinnere mich.
Remember not
Remember not(It slips from my grasp). As above, but let the right G index slip down and out. SeeForget.
Fr.je ne me souviens pas; Ger.ich erinnere mich nicht.
Remembering.SeeMemories.
Repeat
Repeat,Again, orBack.Place the finger tips of the compressed right hand on the left palm, as the latter is held in front of the body, back down, and strike once or twice. (Sheeaka. Probably borrowed from Deaf.) CompareOnce,Twice,Often, andMore.
Repeat.Hold up right G, chin high, back up, pointing to left and forward; lash down with it like a whip twice or more as best fits in. Sometimes signCome back. CompareAll the time.
Fr.répéter; Ger.wiederholen.
Reply.SeeAnswer.
Request.SeeBeg.
Resemble.SeeAlike.
Respond.SeeAnswer.
Responsible.SignI(or whoever it is),Do,ThatOrMy(orHis)Way. (Seger.) SignCarryandThat(Suggested.)
Fr.responsable; Ger.verantwortlich.
RestaurantorHotel. Sign forHouseandEat.
Fr.le restaurant,l’hôtel; Ger.das Restaurant,das Hotel.
RestrainorPrevent. SignHoldandKeep quiet. Sometimes useDo not.
Fr.réprimer,empêcher; Ger.zurückhalten,verhindern.
Result.SignAfter, Work, See.
Fr.le résultat; Ger.das Ergebnis, die Folge.
Retreat(Of many). SignCharge, then reverse and withdraw the hands.
Retreat(Of one). SignGoing, then turn the G hand palm toward you and draw it back with similar action. (Understood; not established.)
Fr.la retraite; Ger.der Rückzug.
Reverie.Bow the head, resting the mouth on the A fist. CompareMemories.
Fr.la rêverie; Ger.die Träumerei.
Revile.SeeBlackguarding.
Revive.SeeRecover.
Revolver.Sign for drawing from belt behind and present the same, using right G hand, back to right. AddFire-off, if need be. SeeGun.
Fr.le pistolet, le revolver; Ger.der Revolver.
Rich.SignPossesses, Heap, Money.
Fr.riche; Ger.reich.
Ride
Ride(To ride an animal). Hold the hands as inHorse, and then move the hands to the front on short vertical curves.
Fr.aller à cheval; Ger.reiten.
Ridge
Ridge(Of hills). Hold the A hands touching, thumbs toward face and upright; draw them apart a foot. CompareSoldiersandHill.
Ridge
Ridge.SignHillwith right, then hold 5 out at arm’s length, face high, flat, and bent, so the fingers point to the left; swing it slowly horizontally across to the right. This last seems to mean “lying across the horizon” and appears in several combinations. SeeMirage.
Fr.la crête; Ger.der Kamm.
Rifle.SeeGun.
Right.SeeGood.
Rill.SeeCreek.
Ring(For finger). Hold up left 5 hand; then with right index and thumb make as though slipping a ring on the ring finger.
Fr.la bague; Ger.der Ring.
Rising man
Rising man, orComing man(Man rising to stand on a hill). Hold up left as inHill; lay right G behind or beside it, against the thumb, palm forward, pointing up; push right up until the base of the index is sitting on top of the left; that is, becomesProminent. SeeProminentandFamous.
Fr.l’homme qui arrivera; Ger.der Mann der Zukunft.
River
River,Big stream, orRunning water. SignWaterthen with tremulous movement draw flat right 4 hand, palm down, from opposite left breast to opposite right; fingers always level and pointing to left. CompareCreekandRill.
Fr.la rivière; Ger.der Flusz.
Road
Road(i.e., Highroad; especially between high banks, hills, or fences). Holding the open hands, palm to palm and pointing forward, carry them forward, as if they represented the sides of a road; then addGoingby pushing the flat right hand forward in line between, palm to left, fingers level. (Sheeaka.) Or signWayandWagon.
Fr.le chemin,la route; Ger.der Weg,die Landstrasse.
Robe.SignCoat; but instead of ending at waist, sweep the hands as low as possible.
Fr.la robe; Ger.das Kleid,die Robe.
RockorStone.SignHardand sometimes indicate shape. ForStoneaddLump. CompareMetal.
Fr.la roche,la pierre; Ger.der Fels,der Stein.
Root.First signTreeorGrass, as may be; then point down, place the 5 hands together at the wrists, backs up and level; pointing left to front and left, right to front and right; then move them out and apart.
Fr.la racine; Ger.die Wurzel.
Rope
Rope(Trailing after the horse and twisted). SignAfter; then, as right is drawn to rear, make tip of index describe a spiral curve. Commonly omit the left hand.
Fr.la corde; Ger.das Seil,der Strick.
Rose
Rose(Flower). Hold the fingers of the left hand straight, little separated, arranged in a circle, back to left and front; in front of body, index finger horizontal and pointing to right and front; with right hand make as though picking berries from the left finger tips. (C)
Fr.la rose; Ger.die Rose.
Rotten(Meat). Indicate smell, etc.
Fr.pourri; Ger.faul,verfault.
Rub it out,Erase,Annul,Never mind,As you were. Put middle finger of right hand to tongue, then rub left palm and wipe the palm with under side of right forearm. (Sheeaka. A white man’s sign now understood by Indians.)
Or, if afar, simply shake the flat right hand quickly and vigorously from side to side as it is held palm forward in front of the face. (Pop.) CompareEasyandErase.
Fr.effacer; Ger.auswischen, “Schwamm drüber!”
Rumor
Rumor(A little flying thing). With flat 5 right hand, palm down, shoulder high, swing out level from throat to right, working all the fingers as in playing piano. (A Paiute sign, given me by Mary Austin.) A combination ofWindandFly.
Fr.la rumeur; Ger.das Gerücht.
Run.Swing the fists at each side as in running.
Fr.courir; Ger.laufen.
Run against.SeeQuandary.
Run away
Run away,Slip away,Clear out,Sneak(Run under cover). Hold out flat left hand, palm down; push right G hand under it quickly and sinuously. Sometimes preface it by laying one hand over the eyes. CompareJealous.
Fr.filer,se sauver; Ger.ausreiszen,weglaufen.
Running Water.SeeRiver.