SIGN TALK OF THE AMERICAN INDIANSBYERNEST THOMPSON SETON“A hand,” “G hand,” “flat hand” etc., mean like “A,” “G,” “flat,” etc., onpage li.AAbandonAbandon,Give It up(Thrown away, chucked). Hold both S hands, backs up, near left breast, briskly swing both down to left side, opening them with a snap and giving a slight rebound to the hands after the movement, as though emphatically throwing away something. Sometimes only one hand is used. CompareBad,Hate, andCharge. SeeDivorce.Fr.abandonner; Ger.aufgeben.Able.SeeCan.AboardAboard(Sitting down on). Left hand out flat, palm up, right S hand on it, thumb up. CompareSit down.Fr.à bord; Ger.an Bord.AboutAboutorAround. Hold the flat left hand pointing forward, up and to the right, encircle it several times with the right G finger. If possible, make it concrete by indicating the very thing that was encircled.Fr.autour; Ger.um...herum.About, in the sense ofNear byorAlmost. SeeClose.AboveAboveorOver(One thing above another). Bring the flat left hand, back up, in front of and a little to the left of body; left forearm horizontal, fingers pointing to right and front; bring the flat right hand, back up over the left in a semi-circle upward large or small, as best suggests the actual distance. Has been used forMore than. CompareBeyond.Fr.au-dessus; Ger.über.(Belowis the reverse of this.)Absent.SeeEmpty.AbuseAbusetoScoldorDefame(Throwing lies against one). Hold the right V hand near the mouth, pointing to left. Jerk it forward toward person once or twice. ForAbusing memake the sign lower opposite the left breast and inward toward one’s self.Fr.calomnier,injurier; Ger.schmähen,beschimpfen.Accident.SeeFree, alsoLuck.AcheAcheorPain. Thrust G finger many times in different directions over and parallel to the part. CompareWoundandSick.Fr.la douleur; Ger.der Schmerz.AcrossAcross,Cross, orOver(Crossing a ridge). Hold the flat left hand out, palm down, and pointing forward and toward the right, pass the flat right hand edgewise across the back of the left. If but one person is meant,the right G is sometimes used. This sign as illustrated is often used forCouncil. SeeCouncilandLaws.Fr.d’un côté à l’autre,traverser; Ger.hinüber.ActAct, as in a theatre play. Hold A hands in front perpendicularly, move up and down alternately as though the thumbs were two puppets. (Deaf sign, not used or understood by Indians.) ComparePlayandFollow.Act, as in a play. SignFace,Two,Dance(that is dancing with a mask) (not established).Fr.jouer; Ger.spielen.ActorDeed. SeeWork.Add toAdd to(Piling up). Flat left hand pointing to the right and front, palm up, forearm horizontal; the palm of flat right hand is placed on top of left hand a number of times, the left hand being raised a couple of inches each time, to meet it; the movement ends with left hand as high as top of the head. Often it is done as in the illustration but with palm of left down.Adjectives, seeComparative.Adulation.Kissing the back of the hand. (Pop.) Not Indian, but they understand it now. (R. B.)Fr.la flatterie; Ger.die Schmeichelei.AdvanceAdvance.Both flat hands back up, pointing forward, tandem, right in advance, six inches ahead (the fingers extended) moved forward together in gentle jerks. CompareMove camp.Fr.avancer; Ger.vorschreiten.Advance GuardAdvance Guard(The one ahead, looking). Flat left hand back up, pointing forward, breast high; place G right just before it, then turn right G into V to meanLooking. Also used forScout. CompareAhead.Fr.l’avant-garde; Ger.die Vorhut.AdviseorAdvice. SignTalk,Make,Way. (C) SignHelpandTalkwould be near it.Fr.conseiller; Ger.raten.AfraidAfraid(Shaking heart). SignHeartthen shake it up and down two or three times, to indicate the throbbing action of the heart under influence of fear. Or more strongly, signHeartand then finish by raising the hand until its back strikes the chin, to mean the heart rises in the throat.Fr.effrayé; Ger.ängstlich.AfraidAfraidorCowardly(Seger says this means Buffalo backing out of fight; that is, “drawing in his horns.”) Hold out both G hands level, backs out, G fingers hooked like horns, draw them straight back together for six inches. Mostly but one hand is used. CompareBring.Fr.lâche,poltron; Ger.feige.Afraid of no one.Point right G in several directions, then addAfraid,Not.Fr.peur de personne; Ger.vor niemand Angst haben.AfterAfter,Behind, orLate(Time or space). G fingers pointing forward at an angle in front of body; left in advance. Draw the right over and behind the left. Draw it back a little way for alittle bit after; but far back and lowdown fora long way behind. Some finish by clenching the right hand.If it meant thatoneis behindthe rest, use the flat left hand, palm down, in advance, with right G behind.Fr.après; Ger.hinter,nach.AfternoonAfternoon.Make a circle of right thumb and index and sweep it over the afternoon half of the sky from the zenith down. CompareSunset.Fr.l’après-midi; Ger.der Nachmittag.Again.SeeRepeatorMore.Against, i.e.,Go Against. Thrust the tips of the flat right, back out, square against the palm of the flat left held pointing level forward, back to left. See alsoOppose. CompareQuandary.Fr.contre; Ger.wider.Agent, Indian.SignWhitemanandChief, Give all. The Southern Cheyennes signChiefandpull teeth, because their first agent had false upper teeth.Agitate.SeeExcite.Agree.SignYou,I,think,same. Sometimes useEqual. See alsoTreaty.Fr.s’accorder; Ger.übereinstimmen.Agreement.SeeTreaty.AgoAgo,Time back,Past, orBack. SignTimeand point back over the right shoulder with right finger G. Sometimesthe thumb or the whole hand is used instead of the index. SeeBack.Fr.passé,il y a quelque temps; Ger.vorher,früher.AheadAheadorBefore(In time). Hold out the left G pointing forward and up; swing the right G over the left to a place in front of it, both pointing the same way. Some finish by closing and lowering the right fist. CompareAfter.Fr.avant; Ger.vor.AheadAheadorBefore others(In space or rank). Hold out flat left, back up, near breast, pointing forward and slightly upward; then hold right G just before it. CompareAdvance Guard, which it exactly resembles, except that this omitsLooking.Fr.en avant; Ger.vor.Air.SeeWind.AlightAlightorDescend. Indicate from what, then drop right V fingers downward onto flat left palm. SeeDismount.Fr.descendre; Ger.absteigen,hinuntersteigen.Alike, toLook likeorResemble(Of persons). Make the signsFaceandEqual.Fr.semblable; Ger.ähnlich sein.AliveAlive,Live,Life, orAll right(Walking about, upright). Hold index of right hand upright, move it about shoulder high, forward in long slow zigzags sidewise, always turning it so as to move palm forward. Also used forBeorExist. SeeLife,Deer, andNothing. The Blackfeet use the signGrowfor this idea. SeeWandering.Fr.vivant; Ger.lebendig.AllAll.With right hand flat and back up, describe a large horizontal circle, shoulder high.Fr.tout; Ger.alles.All goneAll goneorEmpty(Hands swept clean). Both 5 hands in front of body, backs out, right nearer; loosely brush fingers of right on left palm, moving right outward, then reverse and repeat. Sometimes begin with signAll. SeeWipe out.Fr.vide; Ger.leer.AllianceAllianceorFriendship(Linked together). Form two circles with thumbs and index fingers, and link them together, other fingers closed. Some use only index fingers hooked together.Fr.l’alliance; Ger.das Bündnis.All right.SeeGoodor sometimesAlive.All the timeAll the time.Hold up the left G, pointing upward, forward, and to the right; strike on it with right G near the tip, then every inch or so up to the arm. SeeMany times,CheyenneandBuy.Fr.toujours; Ger.immerzu.AloneAloneorOnly(Living and moving singly). Move the right G hand, pointed upward, slowly forward and to left in a line slightly waving to right and left. CompareAlive,Life,Man,OneandUp there.Fr.seul; Ger.allein.Already.SeeNow.AlwaysAlways,Ever, orForever(Going on in cycles). With elbow at side, hold the right G hand pointing forward; move hand forward, describing circles with the index, the result a spiral, ending with the index raised. (Frosted, borrowed from the Deaf Code.)Always.SignLong time,Wiped out, andNot. Sometimes signStop, Not. (Blackfoot signs.) SeeAll the time.Fr.toujours; Ger.immer.Ambitious(Pushing to rise). Indicate a person, then signPushandRising man, or omit last.Fr.ambitieux; Ger.ehrgeizig.American.SeeNationalities.AmmunitionAmmunition(Cartridges in belt). Lay the flat hands, palm in, on belt, then addShootby shooting the right G forward. (Not Cheyenne, but understood.)Fr.les munitions; Ger.die Munition.AmongAmong.Hold the left 5 hand in front of neck, pointing upward, move right G index (pointing down) in and through. Sometimes useWith.Fr.parmi; Ger.unter.AncestorAncestor.Repeat the sign forFatherseveral times, with the flat left hand held back out on the breast, and each time pushed farther away, theFathersign made beyond it. (Crow sign.) The Cheyennes signFatherandOld.Fr.l’ancêtre; Ger.der Vorvater.AndAndorAlso(Meet and go together). The spread flat right hand, breast high, back forward, drawn six inches to the right and closed to flat hand. (Deaf sign.) CompareHorse. The Cheyennes useEqualorIncrease, according to the sense; or sometimesWithorAdd.Fr.et,aussi; Ger.und,auch.AngryAngry(Mind twisted). Twist the A hand against or near the forehead.Seger maintains that this means a “mad buffalo breaking off his own horns.” Possibly he is right; for the older signs make the heart, not the head, the place of the mind, and this must be a very old sign. Some of the Blackfeet make this sign over the heart. Some grind on the heart with the flat right fist, palm in, after pointing to the person; meaning, “he grinds my heart.” SeeSorrow.Fr.en colère; Ger.böse,zornig.AnimalAnimalorQuadruped(Jumper). The compressed right hand, back up, advanced in short jumps, as inFrogandWeasel. Sometimes the signGroundis made, first by sweeping the flat right across, palm up. “Leaping” is generic for the quadruped as “Flying” is generic forBird. CompareJump. Used by Blackfeet. The Cheyennes considered it incomplete.Fr.l’animal; Ger.das Tier.Annihilate.SeeExterminateorWipe out.Annoyance.SeeTrouble.Annul.SeeRub it out.AnotherAnotherorOther(one other). Hold out flat right, back up, swing it slowly up, out,far to rightand down low, turning it palm up. CompareFallandLie down.Fr.un autre; Ger.ein anderer.Another person.As above, but use right G. (Blackfoot.) In this, as usual, the index up alone meansMan. This gesture is so natural that many whites use it; as, for example, in saying impatiently: “That was another man altogether.”AnswerAnswer(Talk come back). Push right G from the mouth in the signTalk, then draw back reversed; that is, pointing to one’s own face or ear. (Blackfoot.) The Cheyennes useTalk,Arrived here.AnswerAnswer,Reply,Respond(The word that follows the other). Right G index upright on lips, left six inches ahead and parallel; move them together toward the person. (Frosted, borrowed from the Deaf Code.)Fr.la réponse; Ger.die Antwort.AntelopeAntelope(Pronged horns of the animal). Bring the L hands palm toward and alongside of the head, near the base of the ears.Fr.l’antelope; Ger.die Antilope.Anxious.SeeWant.AnyAny(Scattering). Place the right A hand near left side, elbow high; draw it down and out to right side in a shaky curve. (Deaf sign.) UseHereandThere. (Cheyennes.)Fr.quelconque,quelque; Ger.irgend ein.Apache.SeeIndian.Appear,To come into view. SeeCome into view.AppearsAppears,Seems, orLooks like(See and Same). Hold up flat right hand, thumb toward self, shoulder high; throw it forward and turn palm toward self, fixing the eyes on it and signSame. Sometimes use the sign forLookbeforeSame. (Frosted; probably adopted from Deaf Code.)Fr.paraître; Ger.aussehen,erscheinen.Applause.SeeApproval.ApproachApproachorMoving toward. Hold partly bent left hand well in front, breast high, to left side, palm to you and right similarly to right, but quite near to you; move the latterslowlyforward toward former, but not to touch it by several inches. Some use right G. SeeArrive thereandQuandary.Fr.approcher; Ger.näher kommen.Approval,Applause, orPraise. Make the motion of clapping the hands, but without noise. A white man’s sign, but now generally understood.Fr.l’approbation; Ger.der Beifall.AriseAriseorGet up. Hold out right G, back down; raise the arm with a swing and snap and bend the wrist till the finger points straight up. For a large number, use both 5 hands.Fr.se lever; Ger.aufstehen.Arithmetic.SeeNumeral.Around.SeeAbout.ArrangeArrange(Parfleches placed in teepee). With flat right, slightly curved, back out, strike half a dozen times in a circle, turning to watch the hand; then addGood. Sometimes omitGood. Or, signWorkandFix. SeeReady.Fr.arranger; Ger.ordnen,einrichten.ArrestArrestorImprison(To seize hold of and tie at wrists). SignSeizeand then addPrisoner; that is, cross the wrists, hands closed. Sometimes the upright left forearm with S hand, back to left, is held near the left shoulder, grasp left wrist with right hand and pull it a little distance to right.Fr.arrêter; Ger.verhaften.Arrive hereArrive hereorGet here. Hold the flat left hand, back out, near the breast, fingers pointing to right; carry right G, back to front, well out in front of body; bring the right hand briskly against back of left. Often the flat right is used instead of right G.Fr.arriver ici; Ger.hier ankommen.Arrive thereArrive thereorReach. Hold the flat left hand, back to front, well out in front of body, about height of neck, pointing to right; bring right G hand, palm outward, in front of and close to neck, carry the right hand out sharply to strike the palm of the left.Fr.y arriver; Ger.hinkommen.ArroganceArrogance.A haughty lifting of the eyebrows and sidelong, disdainful look down as upon an inferior. (Scott.)SignHead, Big. In the popular code, indicate big chest. SeeConceitandPride.Fr.l’arrogance; Ger.die Anmaszung.ArrowArrow.Make, with a long swing, the motion of drawing an arrow from the left hand.Fr.la flèche; Ger.der Pfeil.AsAsorThan. Both hands, G fingers parallel, level, forward near right side; carry them over to left in similar position. (A sign borrowed from the Deaf, Frosted.) This is the same asWho; only the context can show which is meant. SignSameorBeside.Fr.comme,que; Ger.wie,als.AscendAscend.Indicate the object (hill, tree, etc.), then press right G against it, raising the same in jerks. CompareFamous.Fr.monter; Ger.hinaufsteigen.AshamedAshamedorBashful(Drawing blanket over face). Flat hands pointing up, palms in, close to face and moved in till thewrists crossed, right nearest the face; bow the head a little. CompareBlindandDark. The bowing of the head was not generally done, yet is the only feature to distinguish it fromDark.Fr.honteux; Ger.verschämt,verlegen.AshamedAshamed(I am ashamed). Cover the face and eyes with both hands. (Pop.)Fr.avoir honte; Ger.sich schämen.AshamedAshamed(You should be). SeeShame.Ashes.SignFireandPowder.Fr.la cendre; Ger.die Asche.Ask.SeeBeg.Assiniboine.SeeIndian.AstonishmentAstonishmentorWonder. Lay the flat palm of left hand over the open mouth and draw the body backward. Sometimes, also, raise right hand flat, palm forward.Fr.l’étonnement; Ger.die Verwunderung.Astray.SeeLost.Astride.SeeHorseman.AtAt.Hold left flat hand, back up, pointing partly up; strike the back with right flat hand.Fr.à; Ger.an,auf.Attempt.SeeTry.Attention(A command). SeeCall.Aunt.SignFather(orMother) andSister. Or, signWomanwith right, then tuck compressed right, point down, under left arm pit. (R. B.)Fr.la tante; Ger.die Tante.AuroraAuroraorNorthern Lights. Both hands, backs down,half closed, thumb and finger tips together, raised very high and spread with a sweep to indicate flashes. It should be done facing north. It is helped if the hands when at the highest are swung apart in an arch.Fr.l’aurore boréale; Ger.das Nordlicht.Automobile.SeeMotor car.AutumnAutumn(Leaf-falling time). Make the sign forTreewith both hands, then forLeafwith the right near the left finger tips, then drop the leaf with tremulous, wavy motion down and to right.Fr.l’automne; Ger.der Herbst.AvoidAvoidorMiss. Hold up G hands, move them toward each other as inMeet, but carry left well outside, past and beyond without meeting. CompareMeet,Trade, andMistake.Fr.éviter; Ger.vermeiden.AwlAwl.Bore right G finger into left palm. Or, over the left G as in sewing.Fr.l’alêne; Ger.die Ahle.AxeAxeorHatchet. Hold out the flat right hand, back to right, wrist bent downward. Make as though chopping with it; that is, strike down once or twice. Some also grasp it near the elbow with left index and thumb, but the Cheyennes omit this. ForHatchet, indicateSize. SeeTomahawk.Fr.la hache; Ger.das Beil.
BYERNEST THOMPSON SETON
“A hand,” “G hand,” “flat hand” etc., mean like “A,” “G,” “flat,” etc., onpage li.
Abandon
Abandon,Give It up(Thrown away, chucked). Hold both S hands, backs up, near left breast, briskly swing both down to left side, opening them with a snap and giving a slight rebound to the hands after the movement, as though emphatically throwing away something. Sometimes only one hand is used. CompareBad,Hate, andCharge. SeeDivorce.
Fr.abandonner; Ger.aufgeben.
Able.SeeCan.
Aboard
Aboard(Sitting down on). Left hand out flat, palm up, right S hand on it, thumb up. CompareSit down.
Fr.à bord; Ger.an Bord.
About
AboutorAround. Hold the flat left hand pointing forward, up and to the right, encircle it several times with the right G finger. If possible, make it concrete by indicating the very thing that was encircled.
Fr.autour; Ger.um...herum.
About, in the sense ofNear byorAlmost. SeeClose.
Above
AboveorOver(One thing above another). Bring the flat left hand, back up, in front of and a little to the left of body; left forearm horizontal, fingers pointing to right and front; bring the flat right hand, back up over the left in a semi-circle upward large or small, as best suggests the actual distance. Has been used forMore than. CompareBeyond.
Fr.au-dessus; Ger.über.
(Belowis the reverse of this.)
Absent.SeeEmpty.
Abuse
AbusetoScoldorDefame(Throwing lies against one). Hold the right V hand near the mouth, pointing to left. Jerk it forward toward person once or twice. ForAbusing memake the sign lower opposite the left breast and inward toward one’s self.
Fr.calomnier,injurier; Ger.schmähen,beschimpfen.
Accident.SeeFree, alsoLuck.
Ache
AcheorPain. Thrust G finger many times in different directions over and parallel to the part. CompareWoundandSick.
Fr.la douleur; Ger.der Schmerz.
Across
Across,Cross, orOver(Crossing a ridge). Hold the flat left hand out, palm down, and pointing forward and toward the right, pass the flat right hand edgewise across the back of the left. If but one person is meant,the right G is sometimes used. This sign as illustrated is often used forCouncil. SeeCouncilandLaws.
Fr.d’un côté à l’autre,traverser; Ger.hinüber.
Act
Act, as in a theatre play. Hold A hands in front perpendicularly, move up and down alternately as though the thumbs were two puppets. (Deaf sign, not used or understood by Indians.) ComparePlayandFollow.
Act, as in a play. SignFace,Two,Dance(that is dancing with a mask) (not established).
Fr.jouer; Ger.spielen.
ActorDeed. SeeWork.
Add to
Add to(Piling up). Flat left hand pointing to the right and front, palm up, forearm horizontal; the palm of flat right hand is placed on top of left hand a number of times, the left hand being raised a couple of inches each time, to meet it; the movement ends with left hand as high as top of the head. Often it is done as in the illustration but with palm of left down.
Adjectives, seeComparative.
Adulation.Kissing the back of the hand. (Pop.) Not Indian, but they understand it now. (R. B.)
Fr.la flatterie; Ger.die Schmeichelei.
Advance
Advance.Both flat hands back up, pointing forward, tandem, right in advance, six inches ahead (the fingers extended) moved forward together in gentle jerks. CompareMove camp.
Fr.avancer; Ger.vorschreiten.
Advance Guard
Advance Guard(The one ahead, looking). Flat left hand back up, pointing forward, breast high; place G right just before it, then turn right G into V to meanLooking. Also used forScout. CompareAhead.
Fr.l’avant-garde; Ger.die Vorhut.
AdviseorAdvice. SignTalk,Make,Way. (C) SignHelpandTalkwould be near it.
Fr.conseiller; Ger.raten.
Afraid
Afraid(Shaking heart). SignHeartthen shake it up and down two or three times, to indicate the throbbing action of the heart under influence of fear. Or more strongly, signHeartand then finish by raising the hand until its back strikes the chin, to mean the heart rises in the throat.
Fr.effrayé; Ger.ängstlich.
Afraid
AfraidorCowardly(Seger says this means Buffalo backing out of fight; that is, “drawing in his horns.”) Hold out both G hands level, backs out, G fingers hooked like horns, draw them straight back together for six inches. Mostly but one hand is used. CompareBring.
Fr.lâche,poltron; Ger.feige.
Afraid of no one.Point right G in several directions, then addAfraid,Not.
Fr.peur de personne; Ger.vor niemand Angst haben.
After
After,Behind, orLate(Time or space). G fingers pointing forward at an angle in front of body; left in advance. Draw the right over and behind the left. Draw it back a little way for alittle bit after; but far back and lowdown fora long way behind. Some finish by clenching the right hand.
If it meant thatoneis behindthe rest, use the flat left hand, palm down, in advance, with right G behind.
Fr.après; Ger.hinter,nach.
Afternoon
Afternoon.Make a circle of right thumb and index and sweep it over the afternoon half of the sky from the zenith down. CompareSunset.
Fr.l’après-midi; Ger.der Nachmittag.
Again.SeeRepeatorMore.
Against, i.e.,Go Against. Thrust the tips of the flat right, back out, square against the palm of the flat left held pointing level forward, back to left. See alsoOppose. CompareQuandary.
Fr.contre; Ger.wider.
Agent, Indian.SignWhitemanandChief, Give all. The Southern Cheyennes signChiefandpull teeth, because their first agent had false upper teeth.
Agitate.SeeExcite.
Agree.SignYou,I,think,same. Sometimes useEqual. See alsoTreaty.
Fr.s’accorder; Ger.übereinstimmen.
Agreement.SeeTreaty.
Ago
Ago,Time back,Past, orBack. SignTimeand point back over the right shoulder with right finger G. Sometimesthe thumb or the whole hand is used instead of the index. SeeBack.
Fr.passé,il y a quelque temps; Ger.vorher,früher.
Ahead
AheadorBefore(In time). Hold out the left G pointing forward and up; swing the right G over the left to a place in front of it, both pointing the same way. Some finish by closing and lowering the right fist. CompareAfter.
Fr.avant; Ger.vor.
Ahead
AheadorBefore others(In space or rank). Hold out flat left, back up, near breast, pointing forward and slightly upward; then hold right G just before it. CompareAdvance Guard, which it exactly resembles, except that this omitsLooking.
Fr.en avant; Ger.vor.
Air.SeeWind.
Alight
AlightorDescend. Indicate from what, then drop right V fingers downward onto flat left palm. SeeDismount.
Fr.descendre; Ger.absteigen,hinuntersteigen.
Alike, toLook likeorResemble(Of persons). Make the signsFaceandEqual.
Fr.semblable; Ger.ähnlich sein.
Alive
Alive,Live,Life, orAll right(Walking about, upright). Hold index of right hand upright, move it about shoulder high, forward in long slow zigzags sidewise, always turning it so as to move palm forward. Also used forBeorExist. SeeLife,Deer, andNothing. The Blackfeet use the signGrowfor this idea. SeeWandering.
Fr.vivant; Ger.lebendig.
All
All.With right hand flat and back up, describe a large horizontal circle, shoulder high.
Fr.tout; Ger.alles.
All gone
All goneorEmpty(Hands swept clean). Both 5 hands in front of body, backs out, right nearer; loosely brush fingers of right on left palm, moving right outward, then reverse and repeat. Sometimes begin with signAll. SeeWipe out.
Fr.vide; Ger.leer.
Alliance
AllianceorFriendship(Linked together). Form two circles with thumbs and index fingers, and link them together, other fingers closed. Some use only index fingers hooked together.
Fr.l’alliance; Ger.das Bündnis.
All right.SeeGoodor sometimesAlive.
All the time
All the time.Hold up the left G, pointing upward, forward, and to the right; strike on it with right G near the tip, then every inch or so up to the arm. SeeMany times,CheyenneandBuy.
Fr.toujours; Ger.immerzu.
Alone
AloneorOnly(Living and moving singly). Move the right G hand, pointed upward, slowly forward and to left in a line slightly waving to right and left. CompareAlive,Life,Man,OneandUp there.
Fr.seul; Ger.allein.
Already.SeeNow.
Always
Always,Ever, orForever(Going on in cycles). With elbow at side, hold the right G hand pointing forward; move hand forward, describing circles with the index, the result a spiral, ending with the index raised. (Frosted, borrowed from the Deaf Code.)
Always.SignLong time,Wiped out, andNot. Sometimes signStop, Not. (Blackfoot signs.) SeeAll the time.
Fr.toujours; Ger.immer.
Ambitious(Pushing to rise). Indicate a person, then signPushandRising man, or omit last.
Fr.ambitieux; Ger.ehrgeizig.
American.SeeNationalities.
Ammunition
Ammunition(Cartridges in belt). Lay the flat hands, palm in, on belt, then addShootby shooting the right G forward. (Not Cheyenne, but understood.)
Fr.les munitions; Ger.die Munition.
Among
Among.Hold the left 5 hand in front of neck, pointing upward, move right G index (pointing down) in and through. Sometimes useWith.
Fr.parmi; Ger.unter.
Ancestor
Ancestor.Repeat the sign forFatherseveral times, with the flat left hand held back out on the breast, and each time pushed farther away, theFathersign made beyond it. (Crow sign.) The Cheyennes signFatherandOld.
Fr.l’ancêtre; Ger.der Vorvater.
And
AndorAlso(Meet and go together). The spread flat right hand, breast high, back forward, drawn six inches to the right and closed to flat hand. (Deaf sign.) CompareHorse. The Cheyennes useEqualorIncrease, according to the sense; or sometimesWithorAdd.
Fr.et,aussi; Ger.und,auch.
Angry
Angry(Mind twisted). Twist the A hand against or near the forehead.
Seger maintains that this means a “mad buffalo breaking off his own horns.” Possibly he is right; for the older signs make the heart, not the head, the place of the mind, and this must be a very old sign. Some of the Blackfeet make this sign over the heart. Some grind on the heart with the flat right fist, palm in, after pointing to the person; meaning, “he grinds my heart.” SeeSorrow.
Fr.en colère; Ger.böse,zornig.
Animal
AnimalorQuadruped(Jumper). The compressed right hand, back up, advanced in short jumps, as inFrogandWeasel. Sometimes the signGroundis made, first by sweeping the flat right across, palm up. “Leaping” is generic for the quadruped as “Flying” is generic forBird. CompareJump. Used by Blackfeet. The Cheyennes considered it incomplete.
Fr.l’animal; Ger.das Tier.
Annihilate.SeeExterminateorWipe out.
Annoyance.SeeTrouble.
Annul.SeeRub it out.
Another
AnotherorOther(one other). Hold out flat right, back up, swing it slowly up, out,far to rightand down low, turning it palm up. CompareFallandLie down.
Fr.un autre; Ger.ein anderer.
Another person.As above, but use right G. (Blackfoot.) In this, as usual, the index up alone meansMan. This gesture is so natural that many whites use it; as, for example, in saying impatiently: “That was another man altogether.”
Answer
Answer(Talk come back). Push right G from the mouth in the signTalk, then draw back reversed; that is, pointing to one’s own face or ear. (Blackfoot.) The Cheyennes useTalk,Arrived here.
Answer
Answer,Reply,Respond(The word that follows the other). Right G index upright on lips, left six inches ahead and parallel; move them together toward the person. (Frosted, borrowed from the Deaf Code.)
Fr.la réponse; Ger.die Antwort.
Antelope
Antelope(Pronged horns of the animal). Bring the L hands palm toward and alongside of the head, near the base of the ears.
Fr.l’antelope; Ger.die Antilope.
Anxious.SeeWant.
Any
Any(Scattering). Place the right A hand near left side, elbow high; draw it down and out to right side in a shaky curve. (Deaf sign.) UseHereandThere. (Cheyennes.)
Fr.quelconque,quelque; Ger.irgend ein.
Apache.SeeIndian.
Appear,To come into view. SeeCome into view.
Appears
Appears,Seems, orLooks like(See and Same). Hold up flat right hand, thumb toward self, shoulder high; throw it forward and turn palm toward self, fixing the eyes on it and signSame. Sometimes use the sign forLookbeforeSame. (Frosted; probably adopted from Deaf Code.)
Fr.paraître; Ger.aussehen,erscheinen.
Applause.SeeApproval.
Approach
ApproachorMoving toward. Hold partly bent left hand well in front, breast high, to left side, palm to you and right similarly to right, but quite near to you; move the latterslowlyforward toward former, but not to touch it by several inches. Some use right G. SeeArrive thereandQuandary.
Fr.approcher; Ger.näher kommen.
Approval,Applause, orPraise. Make the motion of clapping the hands, but without noise. A white man’s sign, but now generally understood.
Fr.l’approbation; Ger.der Beifall.
Arise
AriseorGet up. Hold out right G, back down; raise the arm with a swing and snap and bend the wrist till the finger points straight up. For a large number, use both 5 hands.
Fr.se lever; Ger.aufstehen.
Arithmetic.SeeNumeral.
Around.SeeAbout.
Arrange
Arrange(Parfleches placed in teepee). With flat right, slightly curved, back out, strike half a dozen times in a circle, turning to watch the hand; then addGood. Sometimes omitGood. Or, signWorkandFix. SeeReady.
Fr.arranger; Ger.ordnen,einrichten.
Arrest
ArrestorImprison(To seize hold of and tie at wrists). SignSeizeand then addPrisoner; that is, cross the wrists, hands closed. Sometimes the upright left forearm with S hand, back to left, is held near the left shoulder, grasp left wrist with right hand and pull it a little distance to right.
Fr.arrêter; Ger.verhaften.
Arrive here
Arrive hereorGet here. Hold the flat left hand, back out, near the breast, fingers pointing to right; carry right G, back to front, well out in front of body; bring the right hand briskly against back of left. Often the flat right is used instead of right G.
Fr.arriver ici; Ger.hier ankommen.
Arrive there
Arrive thereorReach. Hold the flat left hand, back to front, well out in front of body, about height of neck, pointing to right; bring right G hand, palm outward, in front of and close to neck, carry the right hand out sharply to strike the palm of the left.
Fr.y arriver; Ger.hinkommen.
Arrogance
Arrogance.A haughty lifting of the eyebrows and sidelong, disdainful look down as upon an inferior. (Scott.)SignHead, Big. In the popular code, indicate big chest. SeeConceitandPride.
Fr.l’arrogance; Ger.die Anmaszung.
Arrow
Arrow.Make, with a long swing, the motion of drawing an arrow from the left hand.
Fr.la flèche; Ger.der Pfeil.
As
AsorThan. Both hands, G fingers parallel, level, forward near right side; carry them over to left in similar position. (A sign borrowed from the Deaf, Frosted.) This is the same asWho; only the context can show which is meant. SignSameorBeside.
Fr.comme,que; Ger.wie,als.
Ascend
Ascend.Indicate the object (hill, tree, etc.), then press right G against it, raising the same in jerks. CompareFamous.
Fr.monter; Ger.hinaufsteigen.
Ashamed
AshamedorBashful(Drawing blanket over face). Flat hands pointing up, palms in, close to face and moved in till thewrists crossed, right nearest the face; bow the head a little. CompareBlindandDark. The bowing of the head was not generally done, yet is the only feature to distinguish it fromDark.
Fr.honteux; Ger.verschämt,verlegen.
Ashamed
Ashamed(I am ashamed). Cover the face and eyes with both hands. (Pop.)
Fr.avoir honte; Ger.sich schämen.
Ashamed
Ashamed(You should be). SeeShame.
Ashes.SignFireandPowder.
Fr.la cendre; Ger.die Asche.
Ask.SeeBeg.
Assiniboine.SeeIndian.
Astonishment
AstonishmentorWonder. Lay the flat palm of left hand over the open mouth and draw the body backward. Sometimes, also, raise right hand flat, palm forward.
Fr.l’étonnement; Ger.die Verwunderung.
Astray.SeeLost.
Astride.SeeHorseman.
At
At.Hold left flat hand, back up, pointing partly up; strike the back with right flat hand.
Fr.à; Ger.an,auf.
Attempt.SeeTry.
Attention(A command). SeeCall.
Aunt.SignFather(orMother) andSister. Or, signWomanwith right, then tuck compressed right, point down, under left arm pit. (R. B.)
Fr.la tante; Ger.die Tante.
Aurora
AuroraorNorthern Lights. Both hands, backs down,half closed, thumb and finger tips together, raised very high and spread with a sweep to indicate flashes. It should be done facing north. It is helped if the hands when at the highest are swung apart in an arch.
Fr.l’aurore boréale; Ger.das Nordlicht.
Automobile.SeeMotor car.
Autumn
Autumn(Leaf-falling time). Make the sign forTreewith both hands, then forLeafwith the right near the left finger tips, then drop the leaf with tremulous, wavy motion down and to right.
Fr.l’automne; Ger.der Herbst.
Avoid
AvoidorMiss. Hold up G hands, move them toward each other as inMeet, but carry left well outside, past and beyond without meeting. CompareMeet,Trade, andMistake.
Fr.éviter; Ger.vermeiden.
Awl
Awl.Bore right G finger into left palm. Or, over the left G as in sewing.
Fr.l’alêne; Ger.die Ahle.
Axe
AxeorHatchet. Hold out the flat right hand, back to right, wrist bent downward. Make as though chopping with it; that is, strike down once or twice. Some also grasp it near the elbow with left index and thumb, but the Cheyennes omit this. ForHatchet, indicateSize. SeeTomahawk.
Fr.la hache; Ger.das Beil.