UUgly.SignFace; i.e., swing the right 5 hand in a circle near the face, and addBad.Fr.laid; Ger.häszlich.Unable.SeeCan’t.Uncertain.SignPerhaps,Know, andNot.Fr.incertain; Ger.unbestimmt.Uncle.SignFather(orMother) andBrother.Fr.l’oncle; Ger.der Onkel.Undecided.Bow the head forward, resting the right G on the lips. See alsoThinkingandIf.Fr.en doute; Ger.unschlüssig.Under.SeeBelow.Understand.SeeKnow; also,Keep.Unfair.SeeExcessive.United.SignAllianceorWith.Fr.uni; Ger.vereinigt.United States of America.There is no well-established sign, but the Indian of a hundred years ago referred to the United States as the “Thirteen Fires,” i.e., Council Fires. So thatThirteenandFireswould answer. The Blackfeet indicate the Boundary Line running east and west, then all south of it.So, also, for the individual States, in the absence of established signs, we may use their nicknames. These, however, are mere suggestions.Fr.les États-Unis d’Amérique; Ger.die Vereinigten Staaten von Nordamerika.Alabama(Cotton State).CountryandCotton. The latter by pointing to something by cotton.Arizona(Cactus State).Country,Trees, andSharp, as inPorcupine.Arkansas(Bear State).CountryandBear Black, to distinguish fromRussia.California(Golden State).CountryandGold; for gold pinch the lobe of the ear, or point to any gold or yellow thing in sight; if it is near, take an imaginary pinch of it, to exclude the object that is made of it.Colorado(Centennial State).Countryand100 YearsorSnows.Connecticut(Nutmeg State).Country,Fruit, andHard.Dakota, North(Flickertail State).Countryand holding G hand, palm up, wag the index to express the tail of the Flickertail gopher.Dakota, South(Coyote State).CountryandSmall Wolf.Delaware(Diamond State).Countryand, forDiamond, place the right thumb and index on an imaginary stone on ring finger of left; then addTwinkle.Florida(Peninsular State).CountryandWater. The half into the left C hand, held level and facing the right, lay the right N fingers, backs up.Georgia(Cracker State).Country,Corn, andGrind, as inCoffee. The Crackers were so called because of their cracked corn diet.Idaho(Land of the Shoshoni).CountryandSnake.Illinois(Prairie State).CountryandPrairie.Indiana(Hoosier State).CountryandWho is here?Iowa(Hawkeye State).Country,Hawk, andEye.Kansas(Sunflower State).Country,Flower, andSun.Kentucky(Blue Grass State).Country,Grass, andBlue.Louisiana(Pelican State).Country,Bird,Long bill; and with index show outline of the pouch.Maine(Pine Tree State).CountryandTree.Maryland(Terrapin State).CountryandTurtle.Massachusetts(Bay State).CountryandBay.Michigan(Wolverine State).CountryandWolverineorBushy-tailed Bear. IndicateBear, thenTailandBushy.Minnesota(Gopher State).CountryandSmall Striped Animal. With compressed right hand, back up, indicate a small animal; then draw the fingers of left 4 hand along it for stripes.Mississippi(Bayou State).Country,Bay, andTrees.Missouri(Banner State).CountryandFlag. Or else, “Show me State,” thus, with flat right hand shade right eye, knit brows, look here and there.Montana(Land of the Blackfeet.)CountryandBlackfeet.Nebraska(Shallow River).Country,River,Broad, andLow. OrPawneeland,Country, andWolf, which is the Pawnee sign.Nevada(Silver State). SignCountry,Metal, andWhite; bring right hand hollow under left and shake as though jingling coins.New Hampshire(Granite State).Countryand signs forHardandVery.New Jersey(Blue State).Country,Color, andBlue.New Mexico(Sunshine State). Make sign forCountryandSun.New York(Empire State).CountryandCrowned, which is indicated by placing both 5 hands on the sides of the head like the feathers in a war-bonnet.North Carolina(Tar Heel State).Country,Heel, andBlack.Ohio(Buckeye State).Country,Deer, andEye.Oklahoma(Sooners State).CountryandSoon, or elseCountryandKiowa.Oregon(Beaver State).CountryandBeaver.Pennsylvania(Keystone State).CountryandKeystone, thus: Hold up right hand, fingers out, pointing up, a space between the ring and middle fingers only; hold all fingers of left hand extended and join at tips to form a wedge; put this wedge in the opening between the fingers of the right hand.Rhode Island(Little State).CountryandVery Small.South Carolina(Palmetto State).CountryandLeaf; then indicate the shape of leaf with flat hand and fingers spread to their utmost.Tennessee(Long Rifles).Country,Rifle, andLong.Texas(Lone Star State).Country, andStar,Alone.Utah(MormonorMany Wives State).Country,Mates,Many.Vermont(Green Mountain State).Country,Mountain,Color, andGrass.Virginia(Tobacco State).CountryandTobacco.Washington(Evergreen State).Country,Green, andAlways.West Virginia(Panhandle State).CountryandCook by frying; then hold out flat spread left hand, palm up, and grasp the wrist with the right.Wisconsin(Badger State).CountryandBadger.Wyoming(Land of Cheyennes).CountryandCheyennesorFinger Choppers.Unjust.SignHonestandNot. SeeExcessive.Fr.injuste; Ger.ungerecht.UnlessorExcept. SeeBut.Unlucky.SignMedicineandBad.Fr.malheureux; Ger.unglücklich.Until.SeeTo.Unwise.SeeFoolish.UpUporUpward. Point up with flat hand or else the right G, raising the same about head high. The index means specifically “that thing up there”; whereas the flat hand means the abstract idea “up.” CompareTallandStand.Fr.en haut,haut; Ger.auf,hinauf,aufwärts.UsUs.SeeWe.
Ugly.SignFace; i.e., swing the right 5 hand in a circle near the face, and addBad.
Fr.laid; Ger.häszlich.
Unable.SeeCan’t.
Uncertain.SignPerhaps,Know, andNot.
Fr.incertain; Ger.unbestimmt.
Uncle.SignFather(orMother) andBrother.
Fr.l’oncle; Ger.der Onkel.
Undecided.Bow the head forward, resting the right G on the lips. See alsoThinkingandIf.
Fr.en doute; Ger.unschlüssig.
Under.SeeBelow.
Understand.SeeKnow; also,Keep.
Unfair.SeeExcessive.
United.SignAllianceorWith.
Fr.uni; Ger.vereinigt.
United States of America.There is no well-established sign, but the Indian of a hundred years ago referred to the United States as the “Thirteen Fires,” i.e., Council Fires. So thatThirteenandFireswould answer. The Blackfeet indicate the Boundary Line running east and west, then all south of it.
So, also, for the individual States, in the absence of established signs, we may use their nicknames. These, however, are mere suggestions.
Fr.les États-Unis d’Amérique; Ger.die Vereinigten Staaten von Nordamerika.
Alabama(Cotton State).CountryandCotton. The latter by pointing to something by cotton.Arizona(Cactus State).Country,Trees, andSharp, as inPorcupine.Arkansas(Bear State).CountryandBear Black, to distinguish fromRussia.California(Golden State).CountryandGold; for gold pinch the lobe of the ear, or point to any gold or yellow thing in sight; if it is near, take an imaginary pinch of it, to exclude the object that is made of it.Colorado(Centennial State).Countryand100 YearsorSnows.Connecticut(Nutmeg State).Country,Fruit, andHard.Dakota, North(Flickertail State).Countryand holding G hand, palm up, wag the index to express the tail of the Flickertail gopher.Dakota, South(Coyote State).CountryandSmall Wolf.Delaware(Diamond State).Countryand, forDiamond, place the right thumb and index on an imaginary stone on ring finger of left; then addTwinkle.Florida(Peninsular State).CountryandWater. The half into the left C hand, held level and facing the right, lay the right N fingers, backs up.Georgia(Cracker State).Country,Corn, andGrind, as inCoffee. The Crackers were so called because of their cracked corn diet.Idaho(Land of the Shoshoni).CountryandSnake.Illinois(Prairie State).CountryandPrairie.Indiana(Hoosier State).CountryandWho is here?Iowa(Hawkeye State).Country,Hawk, andEye.Kansas(Sunflower State).Country,Flower, andSun.Kentucky(Blue Grass State).Country,Grass, andBlue.Louisiana(Pelican State).Country,Bird,Long bill; and with index show outline of the pouch.Maine(Pine Tree State).CountryandTree.Maryland(Terrapin State).CountryandTurtle.Massachusetts(Bay State).CountryandBay.Michigan(Wolverine State).CountryandWolverineorBushy-tailed Bear. IndicateBear, thenTailandBushy.Minnesota(Gopher State).CountryandSmall Striped Animal. With compressed right hand, back up, indicate a small animal; then draw the fingers of left 4 hand along it for stripes.Mississippi(Bayou State).Country,Bay, andTrees.Missouri(Banner State).CountryandFlag. Or else, “Show me State,” thus, with flat right hand shade right eye, knit brows, look here and there.Montana(Land of the Blackfeet.)CountryandBlackfeet.Nebraska(Shallow River).Country,River,Broad, andLow. OrPawneeland,Country, andWolf, which is the Pawnee sign.Nevada(Silver State). SignCountry,Metal, andWhite; bring right hand hollow under left and shake as though jingling coins.New Hampshire(Granite State).Countryand signs forHardandVery.New Jersey(Blue State).Country,Color, andBlue.New Mexico(Sunshine State). Make sign forCountryandSun.New York(Empire State).CountryandCrowned, which is indicated by placing both 5 hands on the sides of the head like the feathers in a war-bonnet.North Carolina(Tar Heel State).Country,Heel, andBlack.Ohio(Buckeye State).Country,Deer, andEye.Oklahoma(Sooners State).CountryandSoon, or elseCountryandKiowa.Oregon(Beaver State).CountryandBeaver.Pennsylvania(Keystone State).CountryandKeystone, thus: Hold up right hand, fingers out, pointing up, a space between the ring and middle fingers only; hold all fingers of left hand extended and join at tips to form a wedge; put this wedge in the opening between the fingers of the right hand.Rhode Island(Little State).CountryandVery Small.South Carolina(Palmetto State).CountryandLeaf; then indicate the shape of leaf with flat hand and fingers spread to their utmost.Tennessee(Long Rifles).Country,Rifle, andLong.Texas(Lone Star State).Country, andStar,Alone.Utah(MormonorMany Wives State).Country,Mates,Many.Vermont(Green Mountain State).Country,Mountain,Color, andGrass.Virginia(Tobacco State).CountryandTobacco.Washington(Evergreen State).Country,Green, andAlways.West Virginia(Panhandle State).CountryandCook by frying; then hold out flat spread left hand, palm up, and grasp the wrist with the right.Wisconsin(Badger State).CountryandBadger.Wyoming(Land of Cheyennes).CountryandCheyennesorFinger Choppers.
Alabama(Cotton State).CountryandCotton. The latter by pointing to something by cotton.
Arizona(Cactus State).Country,Trees, andSharp, as inPorcupine.
Arkansas(Bear State).CountryandBear Black, to distinguish fromRussia.
California(Golden State).CountryandGold; for gold pinch the lobe of the ear, or point to any gold or yellow thing in sight; if it is near, take an imaginary pinch of it, to exclude the object that is made of it.
Colorado(Centennial State).Countryand100 YearsorSnows.
Connecticut(Nutmeg State).Country,Fruit, andHard.
Dakota, North(Flickertail State).Countryand holding G hand, palm up, wag the index to express the tail of the Flickertail gopher.
Dakota, South(Coyote State).CountryandSmall Wolf.
Delaware(Diamond State).Countryand, forDiamond, place the right thumb and index on an imaginary stone on ring finger of left; then addTwinkle.
Florida(Peninsular State).CountryandWater. The half into the left C hand, held level and facing the right, lay the right N fingers, backs up.
Georgia(Cracker State).Country,Corn, andGrind, as inCoffee. The Crackers were so called because of their cracked corn diet.
Idaho(Land of the Shoshoni).CountryandSnake.
Illinois(Prairie State).CountryandPrairie.
Indiana(Hoosier State).CountryandWho is here?
Iowa(Hawkeye State).Country,Hawk, andEye.
Kansas(Sunflower State).Country,Flower, andSun.
Kentucky(Blue Grass State).Country,Grass, andBlue.
Louisiana(Pelican State).Country,Bird,Long bill; and with index show outline of the pouch.
Maine(Pine Tree State).CountryandTree.
Maryland(Terrapin State).CountryandTurtle.
Massachusetts(Bay State).CountryandBay.
Michigan(Wolverine State).CountryandWolverineorBushy-tailed Bear. IndicateBear, thenTailandBushy.
Minnesota(Gopher State).CountryandSmall Striped Animal. With compressed right hand, back up, indicate a small animal; then draw the fingers of left 4 hand along it for stripes.
Mississippi(Bayou State).Country,Bay, andTrees.
Missouri(Banner State).CountryandFlag. Or else, “Show me State,” thus, with flat right hand shade right eye, knit brows, look here and there.
Montana(Land of the Blackfeet.)CountryandBlackfeet.
Nebraska(Shallow River).Country,River,Broad, andLow. OrPawneeland,Country, andWolf, which is the Pawnee sign.
Nevada(Silver State). SignCountry,Metal, andWhite; bring right hand hollow under left and shake as though jingling coins.
New Hampshire(Granite State).Countryand signs forHardandVery.
New Jersey(Blue State).Country,Color, andBlue.
New Mexico(Sunshine State). Make sign forCountryandSun.
New York(Empire State).CountryandCrowned, which is indicated by placing both 5 hands on the sides of the head like the feathers in a war-bonnet.
North Carolina(Tar Heel State).Country,Heel, andBlack.
Ohio(Buckeye State).Country,Deer, andEye.
Oklahoma(Sooners State).CountryandSoon, or elseCountryandKiowa.
Oregon(Beaver State).CountryandBeaver.
Pennsylvania(Keystone State).CountryandKeystone, thus: Hold up right hand, fingers out, pointing up, a space between the ring and middle fingers only; hold all fingers of left hand extended and join at tips to form a wedge; put this wedge in the opening between the fingers of the right hand.
Rhode Island(Little State).CountryandVery Small.
South Carolina(Palmetto State).CountryandLeaf; then indicate the shape of leaf with flat hand and fingers spread to their utmost.
Tennessee(Long Rifles).Country,Rifle, andLong.
Texas(Lone Star State).Country, andStar,Alone.
Utah(MormonorMany Wives State).Country,Mates,Many.
Vermont(Green Mountain State).Country,Mountain,Color, andGrass.
Virginia(Tobacco State).CountryandTobacco.
Washington(Evergreen State).Country,Green, andAlways.
West Virginia(Panhandle State).CountryandCook by frying; then hold out flat spread left hand, palm up, and grasp the wrist with the right.
Wisconsin(Badger State).CountryandBadger.
Wyoming(Land of Cheyennes).CountryandCheyennesorFinger Choppers.
Unjust.SignHonestandNot. SeeExcessive.
Fr.injuste; Ger.ungerecht.
UnlessorExcept. SeeBut.
Unlucky.SignMedicineandBad.
Fr.malheureux; Ger.unglücklich.
Until.SeeTo.
Unwise.SeeFoolish.
Up
UporUpward. Point up with flat hand or else the right G, raising the same about head high. The index means specifically “that thing up there”; whereas the flat hand means the abstract idea “up.” CompareTallandStand.
Fr.en haut,haut; Ger.auf,hinauf,aufwärts.
Us
Us.SeeWe.