“A hand,” “G hand,” “flat hand” etc., mean like “A,” “G,” “flat,” etc., on page li.
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. Compare Bad, Hate, and Charge. See Divorce.
Fr. abandonner; Ger. aufgeben.
Able. See Can.
Aboard (Sitting down on). Left hand out flat, palm up, right S hand on it, thumb up. Compare Sit down.
Fr. à bord; Ger. an Bord.
About or Around. 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 of Near by or Almost. See Close.
Above or Over (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 for More than. Compare Beyond.
Fr. au-dessus; Ger. über.
(Below is the reverse of this.)
Absent. See Empty.
Abuse to Scold or Defame (Throwing lies against one). Hold the right V hand near the mouth, pointing to left. Jerk it forward toward person once or twice. For Abusing me make the sign lower opposite the left breast and inward toward one’s self.
Fr. calomnier, injurier; Ger. schmähen, beschimpfen.
Accident. See Free, also Luck.
Ache or Pain. Thrust G finger many times in different directions over and parallel to the part. Compare Wound and Sick.
Fr. la douleur; Ger. der Schmerz.
Across, Cross, or Over (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 for Council. See Council and Laws.
Fr. d’un côté à l’autre, traverser; Ger. hinüber.
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.) Compare Play and Follow.
Act, as in a play. Sign Face, Two, Dance (that is dancing with a mask) (not established).
Fr. jouer; Ger. spielen.
Act or Deed. See Work.
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, see Comparative.
Adulation. Kissing the back of the hand. (Pop.) Not Indian, but they understand it now. (R. B.)
Fr. la flatterie; Ger. die Schmeichelei.
Advance. Both flat hands back up, pointing forward, tandem, right in advance, six inches ahead (the fingers extended) moved forward together in gentle jerks. Compare Move camp.
Fr. avancer; Ger. vorschreiten.
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 mean Looking. Also used for Scout. Compare Ahead.
Fr. l’avant-garde; Ger. die Vorhut.
Advise or Advice. Sign Talk, Make, Way. (C) Sign Help and Talk would be near it.
Fr. conseiller; Ger. raten.
Afraid (Shaking heart). Sign Heart then shake it up and down two or three times, to indicate the throbbing action of the heart under influence of fear. Or more strongly, sign Heart and 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 or Cowardly (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. Compare Bring.
Fr. lâche, poltron; Ger. feige.
Afraid of no one. Point right G in several directions, then add Afraid, Not.
Fr. peur de personne; Ger. vor niemand Angst haben.
After, Behind, or Late (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 a little bit after; but far back and low down for a long way behind. Some finish by clenching the right hand.
If it meant that one is behind the rest, use the flat left hand, palm down, in advance, with right G behind.
Fr. après; Ger. hinter, nach.
Afternoon. Make a circle of right thumb and index and sweep it over the afternoon half of the sky from the zenith down. Compare Sunset.
Fr. l’après-midi; Ger. der Nachmittag.
Again. See Repeat or More.
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 also Oppose. Compare Quandary.
Fr. contre; Ger. wider.
Agent, Indian. Sign Whiteman and Chief, Give all. The Southern Cheyennes sign Chief and pull teeth, because their first agent had false upper teeth.
Agitate. See Excite.
Agree. Sign You, I, think, same. Sometimes use Equal. See also Treaty.
Fr. s’accorder; Ger. übereinstimmen.
Agreement. See Treaty.
Ago, Time back, Past, or Back. Sign Time and point back over the right shoulder with right finger G. Sometimes the thumb or the whole hand is used instead of the index. See Back.
Fr. passé, il y a quelque temps; Ger. vorher, früher.
Ahead or Before (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. Compare After.
Fr. avant; Ger. vor.
Ahead or Before 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. Compare Advance Guard, which it exactly resembles, except that this omits Looking.
Fr. en avant; Ger. vor.
Air. See Wind.
Alight or Descend. Indicate from what, then drop right V fingers downward onto flat left palm. See Dismount.
Fr. descendre; Ger. absteigen, hinuntersteigen.
Alike, to Look like or Resemble (Of persons). Make the signs Face and Equal.
Fr. semblable; Ger. ähnlich sein.
Alive, Live, Life, or All 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 for Be or Exist. See Life, Deer, and Nothing. The Blackfeet use the sign Grow for this idea. See Wandering.
Fr. vivant; Ger. lebendig.
All. With right hand flat and back up, describe a large horizontal circle, shoulder high.
Fr. tout; Ger. alles.
All gone or Empty (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 sign All. See Wipe out.
Fr. vide; Ger. leer.
Alliance or Friendship (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. See Good or sometimes Alive.
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. See Many times, Cheyenne and Buy.
Fr. toujours; Ger. immerzu.
Alone or Only (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. Compare Alive, Life, Man, One and Up there.
Fr. seul; Ger. allein.
Already. See Now.
Always, Ever, or Forever (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. Sign Long time, Wiped out, and Not. Sometimes sign Stop, Not. (Blackfoot signs.) See All the time.
Fr. toujours; Ger. immer.
Ambitious (Pushing to rise). Indicate a person, then sign Push and Rising man, or omit last.
Fr. ambitieux; Ger. ehrgeizig.
American. See Nationalities.
Ammunition (Cartridges in belt). Lay the flat hands, palm in, on belt, then add Shoot by shooting the right G forward. (Not Cheyenne, but understood.)
Fr. les munitions; Ger. die Munition.
Among. Hold the left 5 hand in front of neck, pointing upward, move right G index (pointing down) in and through. Sometimes use With.
Fr. parmi; Ger. unter.
Ancestor. Repeat the sign for Father several times, with the flat left hand held back out on the breast, and each time pushed farther away, the Father sign made beyond it. (Crow sign.) The Cheyennes sign Father and Old.
Fr. l’ancêtre; Ger. der Vorvater.
And or Also (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.) Compare Horse. The Cheyennes use Equal or Increase, according to the sense; or sometimes With or Add.
Fr. et, aussi; Ger. und, auch.
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.” See Sorrow.
Fr. en colère; Ger. böse, zornig.
Animal or Quadruped (Jumper). The compressed right hand, back up, advanced in short jumps, as in Frog and Weasel. Sometimes the sign Ground is made, first by sweeping the flat right across, palm up. “Leaping” is generic for the quadruped as “Flying” is generic for Bird. Compare Jump. Used by Blackfeet. The Cheyennes considered it incomplete.
Fr. l’animal; Ger. das Tier.
Annihilate. See Exterminate or Wipe out.
Annoyance. See Trouble.
Annul. See Rub it out.
Another or Other (one other). Hold out flat right, back up, swing it slowly up, out, far to right and down low, turning it palm up. Compare Fall and Lie down.
Fr. un autre; Ger. ein anderer.
Another person. As above, but use right G. (Blackfoot.) In this, as usual, the index up alone means Man. This gesture is so natural that many whites use it; as, for example, in saying impatiently: “That was another man altogether.”
Answer (Talk come back). Push right G from the mouth in the sign Talk, then draw back reversed; that is, pointing to one’s own face or ear. (Blackfoot.) The Cheyennes use Talk, Arrived here.
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 (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. See Want.
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.) Use Here and There. (Cheyennes.)
Fr. quelconque, quelque; Ger. irgend ein.
Apache. See Indian.
Appear, To come into view. See Come into view.
Appears, Seems, or Looks 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 sign Same. Sometimes use the sign for Look before Same. (Frosted; probably adopted from Deaf Code.)
Fr. paraître; Ger. aussehen, erscheinen.
Applause. See Approval.
Approach or Moving 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 latter slowly forward toward former, but not to touch it by several inches. Some use right G. See Arrive there and Quandary.
Fr. approcher; Ger. näher kommen.
Approval, Applause, or Praise. 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 or Get 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. See Numeral.
Around. See About.
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 add Good. Sometimes omit Good. Or, sign Work and Fix. See Ready.
Fr. arranger; Ger. ordnen, einrichten.
Arrest or Imprison (To seize hold of and tie at wrists). Sign Seize and then add Prisoner; 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 or Get 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 or Reach. 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. A haughty lifting of the eyebrows and sidelong, disdainful look down as upon an inferior. (Scott.) Sign Head, Big. In the popular code, indicate big chest. See Conceit and Pride.
Fr. l’arrogance; Ger. die Anmaszung.
Arrow. Make, with a long swing, the motion of drawing an arrow from the left hand.
Fr. la flèche; Ger. der Pfeil.
As or Than. 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 as Who; only the context can show which is meant. Sign Same or Beside.
Fr. comme, que; Ger. wie, als.
Ascend. Indicate the object (hill, tree, etc.), then press right G against it, raising the same in jerks. Compare Famous.
Fr. monter; Ger. hinaufsteigen.
Ashamed or Bashful (Drawing blanket over face). Flat hands pointing up, palms in, close to face and moved in till the wrists crossed, right nearest the face; bow the head a little. Compare Blind and Dark. The bowing of the head was not generally done, yet is the only feature to distinguish it from Dark.
Fr. honteux; Ger. verschämt, verlegen.
Ashamed (I am ashamed). Cover the face and eyes with both hands. (Pop.)
Fr. avoir honte; Ger. sich schämen.
Ashamed (You should be). See Shame.
Ashes. Sign Fire and Powder.
Fr. la cendre; Ger. die Asche.
Ask. See Beg.
Assiniboine. See Indian.
Astonishment or Wonder. 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. See Lost.
Astride. See Horseman.
At. Hold left flat hand, back up, pointing partly up; strike the back with right flat hand.
Fr. à; Ger. an, auf.
Attempt. See Try.
Attention (A command). See Call.
Aunt. Sign Father (or Mother) and Sister. Or, sign Woman with right, then tuck compressed right, point down, under left arm pit. (R. B.)
Fr. la tante; Ger. die Tante.
Aurora or Northern 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. See Motor car.
Autumn (Leaf-falling time). Make the sign for Tree with both hands, then for Leaf with 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 or Miss. Hold up G hands, move them toward each other as in Meet, but carry left well outside, past and beyond without meeting. Compare Meet, Trade, and Mistake.
Fr. éviter; Ger. vermeiden.
Awl. Bore right G finger into left palm. Or, over the left G as in sewing.
Fr. l’alêne; Ger. die Ahle.
Axe or Hatchet. 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. For Hatchet, indicate Size. See Tomahawk.
Fr. la hache; Ger. das Beil.