C
Cache. See Hide.
Call, Attention! Say! Strike the palm of the open left hand with the tips of right fingers, then swing right G a little toward the person.
Fr. dites donc; Ger. hören Sie!
Called or Named. Lay the back of the crooked right G on lips, pointing to front and left, its tip pressed against the thumb, which is nearly straight; then move the hand upward and forward in a curve, straightening out the index finally with a snap, pointing toward the person or thing. Compare Talk in which the action is repeated. See also Name.
Fr. appelé; Ger. genannt.
Camera. Sign Picture and See. Compare Photograph.
Camp (Set up the lodge). Sign Teepee, holding the hands face high; drop the hands together for a foot with energy.
Fr. le camp; Ger. das Lager.
Camp-fire. Hold left hand flat, palm down, fingers a little spread; then lay right hand fingers similarly held across at right angles, to indicate the wood laid ready, and add the sign for Fire. (Sheeaka.) Not a true Indian sign, but sufficiently descriptive for the Cheyennes to understand it.
Fr. le feu de camp; Ger. das Lagerfeuer.
Camp-fire Girls. Sign Camp-fire, then raise the right index in a spiral for Smoke.
Camp-fire man are you? Give the signs Question, you, camp-fire, and man or briefly make the Camp-fire sign and look inquiringly.
Fr. Êtes vous membre du Camp-fire Club; Ger. Sind Sie ein Mitglied des Lagerfeuer Klubs?
Can, Able, or Power. Hold both S hands in front, elbows at sides, thumbs up; drop the hands for six inches with a jerk. (Sheeaka and the Blackfeet.) Sometimes use only one hand. The Cheyennes sign Own, Strong, Medicine.
Fr. pouvoir; Ger. können.
Candid (True, clear as day and good). Sign True, Day, and Good. (C)
Fr. sincère; Ger. aufrichtig.
Candle. Hold up left G finger and with right hand sign Fire on its tip, then indicate length on left arm.
Fr. la bougie; Ger. die Kerze.
Candy-stick. Sign Sugar; then on left G index held upright, show stripes. (C)
Fr. le bonbon; Ger. das Zuckerwerk.
Cannon. Sign Gun and Big.
Fr. le canon; Ger. die Kanone.
Cannot, or Unable, Fail, Failure (The arrow that failed to stick). Hold the flat left hand out in front, thumb edge up; strike the palm of it with the forefinger of the right G hand, which then at once rebounds and is thrown forward and down to rest on its back.
Fr. ne pas pouvoir, incapable; Ger. nicht können, unfähig.
Canoe. Sign Boat and Paddle.
Canoe of birch bark. Push forward compressed right, back down, to represent the curved prow, then add Paddle.
Fr. la pirogue, le canot; Ger. das Kanu, der Rindenkahn.
Canyon (Between hills). Hold up the fists, palms toward each other, about six inches apart, face high; then indicate Go between; that is, hold the left unchanged but thrust forward the flat right hand, palm to left. (Blackfoot.) Compare Between.
Fr. le canyon, le grand ravin; Ger. die Schluckt.
Cards. Hold imaginary cards in left and deal with right hand.
Fr. les cartes; Ger. die Karten.
Caribou. Sign Deer, High, and lay the flat right hand on forehead so the fingers slightly spread point forward, showing the brow shovel. (Blackfoot.) Sometimes omit High.
Fr. le renne, le caribou; Ger. das Karibu.
Carriage, or Covered Wagon. Sign Wagon, then raise the hands, palms down, flat, but bent at an angle, up above the head, and move forward about two feet to represent the carriage top.
Carriage or Buggy. Sign Wagon, Small, and sometimes add Black.
Fr. la voiture; Ger. der Wagen.
Carry or Pack. Both closed hands held opposite the temple as if holding the tump line, the shoulders slightly forward as though bearing a pack.
Fr. porter; Ger. tragen.
Carry in the hand. With one hand make as though carrying a basket by the handle.
Cars. See Railroad train.
Cartridge. Hold right G hand, back up, in front of body, index horizontal and pointing to front, thumb pressed against side of index, with the thumb tip just back of second joint; add Shoot. See Ammunition.
Fr. la cartouche; Ger. die Patrone, (artill) die Kartusche.
Cat (Flattened or turned-up nose). Lay A hand on nose, rotating a little out and up. (C) Sign Nose, Short, Dog.
Fr. le chat; Ger. die Katze.
Catch. Same as Get but action quicker. See Get.
Fr. attraper; Ger. fangen.
Catholic. Indicate gown by sweeping the 5 hands down over the sides and outward; then add Black. Sometimes make the sign of the Cross.
Fr. catholique; Ger. katholisch.
Cattle. Sign Buffalo and Spotted. (Blackfoot.) Compare Buffalo. Or, sign Buffalo and Whiteman.
Fr. les bestiaux; Ger. das Vieh.
Caution. See Warning.
Cavalry. Soldier and Ride.
Fr. la cavalerie; Ger. die Kavallerie.
Centre. With thumbs and index fingers of L hands make a horizontal circle; then, keeping the left unchanged, indicate centre with right G finger. Sometimes draw a horizontal circle with right G, then drop same down into its centre.
Fr. le centre; Ger. die Mitte.
Certain. Sign I, Know, Good. Or use True.
Fr. certain; Ger. sicher.
Challenge, Defy, or Dare. Spring the middle finger with a vigorous snap toward the person, the other fingers closed; hand held face high, back up. A European sign given by Butler. Compare There and Defiance.
Fr. défier; Ger. herausfordern.
Chance. See Luck.
Character (Shape of heart). Lay right C hand on heart, draw it out, that is, forward, a little and with both A hands outline a human figure. (D) Sign Heart, Good, Bad. (Blackfoot.)
Fr. le caractère; Ger. der Charakter.
Charge (Military, against others). Swing both fists from right shoulder forward and a little down in an up curve, away, rising a little, at the same time springing them open.
Fr. la charge (contre les autres); Ger. die Attacke, der Angriff (gegen andere).
Charge (Military, against us). Similar but reversed, springing the hands open toward one’s face.
Fr. la charge (contre nous); Ger. die Attacke (gegen uns).
Chase. See Follow.
Cherries (Choke). Sign, Tree, Pick, and Pound. (Blackfoot.) See Berry.
Fr. les cerises; Ger. die Kirschen.
Cheyenne. See Indian.
Chicken. Sign Bird, then Red and with 5 hand on crown show Comb. (C) Or sign Bird and Whiteman.
Fr. le poulet; Ger. das Huhn.
Chief (People with one man rising above them). Hold up left 5 hand, palm to right, pass index of right G hand at several inches above left. (Scott.) The Cheyennes omit left hand; they shoot the right G up over and much down in a long sweep, finishing lower than it began.
Fr. le commandant; Ger. der Häuptling.
Child or Offspring. Compressed right hand, points up, swung well out in front and dropped a foot to the height of the child. Compare Young.
Fr. l’enfant; Ger. das Kind.
Children (Springing up). Hold out both hands, palms up, very low, fingers pointing up and scarcely spread; alternately swing them up and down for six inches. Compare Grass, in which they are held low and are spread widely; also Bushes.
Fr. les enfants; Ger. die Kinder.
Choose, Make choice, or Select. Hold right G shoulder high, back up, a foot in front of the breast, swing it in a
circle with a succession of little bounds or up curves, as though pointing at many different objects in succession, the head turned to follow always; then finish by throwing the G finger forward in a curve; or, in some cases, finish by picking up the imaginary object selected, using index and thumb for this. Compare Find, Hunting, and Look.
Fr. choisir; Ger. wählen.
Chop. Use the flat right hand, little finger down, as an axe, chopping first from right, then from left, once on each side. Sometimes do this on back of left hand, which stands for the log. Compare Free, which is two or three cuts on right side only.
Fr. couper, trancher; Ger. hauen, hacken.
Christmas (The day of the shining tree). Sign Tree, then hold hand with fingers spread and crooked, palm down, level of face. Lower it six inches in short, quick zigzags to suggest glittering or shimmering. (W. C. Roe.) In Snow the hand is lowered in long zigzags for about two feet. See Shimmer. Or sign Middle, Winter, Tree, and Hanging; for the last, hold the curved 5 hands, backs up, at level of the eyes; jerk them a little apart. (R. B.)
Fr. le Noël; Ger. Weihnachten.
Church (Steeple house). Cross clasp the fingers so the tips are within, then raise both index fingers to form the steeple. (Pop.)
Church. Sign Medicine, Talk, House.
Fr. l’église; Ger. die Kirche.
Cigarette. Sign Tobacco; then lay G fingers side by side pointing opposite ways; roll one about the other. Sometimes omit Tobacco; sometimes give Cigar (2nd sign) and Little.
Fr. la cigarette; Ger. die Zigarette.
Cigar (2). Sign Cigarette, Black, and Smoking. Sometimes hold right G at corner of mouth, pointing forward. Cigar and Cigarette are recent signs and changing rapidly.
Fr. le cigare; Ger. die Zigarre.
City (Big town). Make sign for Town, then add sign for Big. Or omit Big but swing the hands far apart.
Fr. la ville; Ger. die Stadt.
Cities. Many are indicated by their initial letter enhanced with twisting motion. (D) For some we may use their nickname but this is merely a suggestion.
Boston (The Hub). Sign for City and Centre.
Chicago (Windy City). Sign for City and Wind. The Cheyennes call it Big Lake City.
Kansas City (Buffalo Head City). Sign Buffalo Head and point up high to the wall. (Cheyenne.)
London. Sign City, Chief, and Red Coats.
New York (Knickerbocker City). Sign for City and trousers cut off below the knee; i.e., draw flat of hand down over thigh then below knee and stop, turning edge of hand in. Or sign Big Island City. (Blackfoot.)
Ottawa. Sign City, Chief, and Capotes.
Philadelphia (Quaker City). Sign City, then make sign for broad hat with rim curled up by drawing both index fingers across mid-brow, level in front, then twisting them up at the place of the rim. Or “no name, just Big City, nothing distinctive.” (Blackfoot.)
Pittsburg (Smoky City). Sign for City and Smoky.
Rome (Eternal City). Sign City and Forever.
Washington. Sign Father, Chief, Sits. (Cheyenne.)
Clean-handed or Innocent (Great Spirit see no blood on these hands). Lift hands over shoulder, palms up higher than head and add Blood, No. (C) Or, sign Work, Bad, No.
Fr. innocent; Ger. unschuldig.
Clear (Clear Sky). Sign Clouds, then swing the hands wide apart, finishing with palms up at arm’s length, up high. Or, sign Clouds, Wiped out. (Blackfoot.)
Clever. See Cunning.
Close, Near, Nearly, Soon, Early, About, or Almost (Draw near). Bring the flat curved right hand, back to right, well out in front of body, about height of shoulder; draw the hand in toward the body and slightly downward. Compare Far. See also Soon.
Fr. près, presque; Ger. nahe, beinahe.
Clothes. See Coat.
Clouds (Rolling). Rotate the flat hands over each other from in front of the face, to over the head.
Clouds (Rain). Look upward, swing the flat hands at arm’s length, palms down over the head; then add Rain.
Fr. les nuages; Ger. die Wolken.
Coal. Sign Hard, Fire, and Good.
Fr. le charbon; Ger. die Kohle.
Coat or Clothes. Hold the L hands near the breast, palms in; swing them down to the waist.
Fr. l’habit; Ger. der Rock.
Coffee (Grinding coffee in mill). A few inches over the flat left hand, back down, move the right A as though turning the crank of a coffee mill. Or, sign Black Drink. Compare Tobacco.
Fr. le café; Ger. der Kaffee.
Coin. Close hollow right over hollowed left and shake as tho jingling coin. (Sheeaka; not Indian, but now understood.) See Dollar.
Fr. la pièce d’argent; Ger. die Münze.
Cold (Shivering). Bring the fists in front of and close to body, height of shoulder, elbows at sides, shoulders drawn in, and shiver. See Winter. Compare Blanket.
Fr. froid; Ger. kalt.
Color. With the finger tips of right hand (thumb crooked under) rub circularly on the palm of left hand as though rubbing color. Often add Same or Equal, to make more clear.
Fr. la couleur; Ger. die Farbe.
Black. Sign Color and touch the hair or eyebrow.
Fr. noir; Ger. schwarz.
Blue. Sign Sun with left hand and then draw the right G finger around it to mean color of sky around the sun. (Sheeaka). Or, sign Color and Sky.
Fr. bleu; Ger. blau.
Brown. Sign Color and Deer.
Fr. brun; Ger. braun.
Gray. Sign Color, Little, and White.
Fr. gris; Ger. grau.
Green. Sign Color and Grass.
Fr. vert; Ger. grün.
Red (Cheek color). Sign Color and lightly brush the right finger tips over the cheek, points to right.
Fr. rouge; Ger. rot.
White. Sign Color and rub thumb nail of left A hand with tip of right G finger; i.e., nail color, white in Indians.
Fr. blanc; Ger. weiss.
Yellow. Sign Color and point to any yellow object, such as a straw or dead grass. Or sign Color, Grass, and Dead.
Fr. jaune; Ger. gelb.
For other colors, touch or indicate some object of the tint meant.
Comb. With all fingers of right 5 hand hooked, comb the right side of the head and down as far as the breast two or three times. Compare Woman.
Fr. le peigne; Ger. der Kamm.
Combat. See Battle.
Come. Carry right G hand, back out, fingers up, in a graceful sweep from arm’s length to within a foot of one’s face. Many use the flat hand swung down and to you, palm under and toward you. Railroad men use the whole arm, swinging it across the body at an angle of 45 degrees, so as to be seen in a dim light.
Fr. venez; Ger. kommen Sie.
Come back. Hold flat left, back forward, near breast; swing right ditto pointed up from arm’s length in against back of left. See Arrive here.
Fr. revenez; Ger. kommen Sie zurück.
Come between or Intervene. Hold out left hand flat, back out, at arm’s length and pass flat right, thumb up, between left and body.
Fr. s’interposer, intervenir; Ger. dazwischen kommen.
Come gently. See Easy.
Come for a moment. Right hand held forward and up, fingers closed except index, with which beckon by crooking and straightening, the hand not moved. (Pop.) White sign, now fully adopted by the Cheyennes.
Fr. venez une seconde; Ger. kommen Sie einen Augenblick her.
Come into view or Appear. Hold out flat left hand, back forward, thrust right G index up, farther off, under and behind, until it appears above.
Fr. paraître; Ger. erscheinen.
Comfort (See how smooth or fat). Draw flat right hand, palm in, down breast, then off and up in curve forward, palm up. (Sheeaka.) Compare Confess. Sometimes use Glad. (Blackfoot.)
Fr. le bien-être; Ger. die Behaglichkeit.
Comfortable. Alternately rub left palm over back of right hand, then right over left back, always palm up; then swing both forward. (Sheeaka. Probably from Deaf.)
Fr. confortable; Ger. gemütlich.
Coming. Hold out the flat right, palm to you and pointing nearly up; draw it to you in little jerks.
Fr. venant; Ger. kommend.
Coming man. See Rising man.
Commence. See Begin.
Compass points.
North—Wind cold there.
Fr. le nord; Ger. der Norden.
East—Sunrise there.
Fr. l’est; Ger. der Osten.
South—Wind warm there.
Fr. le sud; Ger. der Süden.
West—Sunset there.
Fr. l’ouest; Ger. der Westen.
Complete. See Done.
Comparative, etc., of Adjectives.
For Positive, give first the adjective then swing the flat right hand out a little, level, palm up. (Sheeaka.)
For Comparative, give first the adjective then raise the right G hand to the height of the chin, pointing up. (Sheeaka.) See More, and sometimes use Ahead or Above after the adjective.
Fr. le comparatif; Ger. der Komparativ.
For Superlative, give first the adjective then add Strong and Ahead or Very much.
Fr. le superlatif; Ger. der Superlativ.
Conceal. See Hide.
Conceit (Swelled Head). Hold hands open and curved, one on each side of the head, two or three inches away. A whiteman’s sign, but quite well known now to the younger generation of Indians.
If in unbelievable degree, stretch the right hand at full length sidewise, and work the first finger as though scratching the ear which is supposed to be just above the hand. (Pop.)
Conceit. Sign He, Think, Strong.
Fr. la vanité, la présomption; Ger. die Einbildung, der Dünkel.
Conduct. Same as Way.
Confess (Show the heart). Lay points of both compressed hands on centre of breast, then spring them away, out and aside, turning them flat and palms up. Sometimes but one hand is used. I am inclined to
think that this should be simply Heart and Behold, although none of my Indians made it that way. Sometimes sign You, Tell, True.
Fr. confesser; Ger. gestehen.
Congress. Sign Whiteman, Chief, Council (No. 2).
Fr. le Congrès; Ger. der Kongresz.
Connivance (Wink, that is, close one eye). This ancient sign assumes that the person who should see, closes the eye next his accomplice. (Pop. Also Cheyenne.)
Fr. la connivence; Ger. die Konnivenz, das (strafbare) Einverständnis.
Consider, Ponder, or Weigh (Wisdom looking on the ground). Sign Wolf (i.e., wisdom, analogous with our word “foxy”), then turn downward the points of the two fingers representing the wolf ears, back of hand near the eyes and moving the hand from right to left as in surveying the ground. (Scott.)
Consider. Hold the right “4” hand near the heart, pointing to left, rotate a little back and forth. (Blackfoot.)
The Cheyennes use V hand, which makes it the same as If. See Because.
Fr. considérer; Ger. erwägen.
Constable. See Policeman.
Contempt. See Scorn.
Contented. To make contented, Satisfied. Use Glad or Sit, Good. (Blackfoot.)
Fr. content; Ger. zufrieden.
Continue. Sign Go and Long Time. (Blackfoot.)
Fr. continuer; Ger. fortsetzen.
Conversation. See Discussion, Speech, and Talk.
Cook (In the abstract). See Make and Food.
Fr. faire cuire, cuisiner; Ger. kochen.
Cook (By boiling). With both L hands make a horizontal circle, then holding left unchanged, put something into it with right and add Fire. Compare Centre and Hole.
Fr. cuire, bouillir; Ger. kochen.
Cook (By frying). Place flat right on flat left hand, palm to palm, then flip the right like a pancake, turning it palm up as it drops on the left.
Cook (By broiling). As in the above Frying, but leave out the left hand entirely.
Fr. griller; Ger. braten, rösten.
Cook (noun). Sign Man, Makes, Food.
Fr. le cuisinier; Ger. der Koch.
Coon. See Raccoon.
Corn (Shelling the corn). Hold out the left A hand, thumb straight and resting on index finger; place the ball of the thumb of right A hand on back of left thumb near its base; twist the right hand by wrist action to the right and downward until the right thumb slips off with a snap against the right index. Repeat once or twice.
Fr. le maïs; Ger. der türkische Weizen, der Mais.
Corral or Fenced Field or Pasture (Area embraced or held). Interlock the fingers, hold arms curved in
front, horizontal; then add Enclosure, i.e., swing the hands apart and draw back each in a half circle till their heels meet near you.
Fr. le corral; Ger. die Einzäunung.
Council (Sitting in a circle and talking). Bring the A hands, back outward, well out in front of body, a little lower than the shoulders, little fingers touching; swing them apart and toward the body so they meet close to it, forming a horizontal circle; palms forward; then add Discussion.
Council (2). Exactly like Across, but repeated two or three times. This is a recent sign among the Cheyennes, but is becoming popular. See Across and Law.
Fr. le conseil; Ger. die Ratsversammlung.
Counsel or Advice. See Advice.
Counting. See Numbers.
Count coup or Make a hit or a Strike (Striking a dead body with the coup stick). Strike the top joint of the right G index on the middle of the left G index, as the right is swung from below up. Grand Coup sign Coup and Great.
Fr. le coup; Ger. der Treffschusz.
Country. See Land.
Coup. See Count coup.
Courting (Driving or rounding up in secret). Thrust the right L hand back nearly up under flat left, held
palm down, twisting the right by wrist action. Compare Sweetheart and Glitter.
Fr. faire la cour; Ger. das Cour machen, das Hof machen.
Coward. See Fear.
Coyote. Sign Wolf and Small.
Fr. le coyote, le loup des prairies; Ger. der Präriewolf.
Crab. Place base of wrist of right hand, palm down, on some flat surface, thumb and little finger extended and curved (others closed) to represent claws. Then move the hand sidewise backward, waving the claws. (Scott.) Compare Spider.
Fr. le crabe; Ger. die Krabbe.
Crave. See Want.
Crayfish. Hold out the V hand level; draw it back, opening and shutting the V. Compare Dog.
Fr. l’écrevisse; Ger. der Krebs.
Crazy, Foolish, Mad, Demented (Brain in a whirl). Raise compressed right hand, all fingers together, tap the forehead with it and make one or two quick circles with finger tips in the air. (Sheeaka.) Tap the forehead, shake the head and point to the person. (Pop.)
Crazy. Swing the 5 hand in horizontal circles near the forehead, going with the sun. Going the reverse way always raises a laugh among Cheyennes; it both intensifies and makes the idea ridiculous.
Fr. fou; Ger. verrückt.
Cree. See Indian.
Creek, Brook, or Rill. Sign Water, then draw right G hand, back up, held low, from opposite left side, past body to right side; finger level, pointing to left and waved sidewise. Compare River, Snake, Crooked, and Wire.
Fr. le ruisseau; Ger. der Bach.
Crime or Sin. Sign Strong, Bad, Work.
Fr. le crime; Ger. das Verbrechen.
Crooked or Wrong. Point the right G forward and slightly down; push it slowly forward in a succession of large, horizontal zigzags, each arched a little.
Cross or Sulky. Rest the forehead low on the left hand. Or sign Heart, Bad.
Fr. maussade; Ger. mürrisch.
Cross (of Christ). Hold right G upright, left G at right angles across last joint of right.
Fr. le crucifix; Ger. das Kruzifix.
Cross. See Across.
Cross the heart. With right index make a little cross over the heart. This means “I give you my word of honor.” (Pop.)
Fr. parole d’honneur!; Ger. auf mein Ehrenwort!
Crow. Sign Bird and Black.
Fr. la corneille; Ger. die Krähe.
Crowded. See Few.
Crow Indian. See Indian.
Crush. See Exterminate.
Cry out. See Yell.
Cry, To weep. With G forefingers near the eyes trace the courses of tears. If excessive, sign Rain from the eyes. (Blackfoot.) Compare Pity.
Fr. pleurer; Ger. weinen.
Cunning, Smart, or Clever. Make the sign for Wolf and add the sign Equal. Compare Consider.
Fr. rusé; Ger. schlau.
Cut. Saw the lower edge of the flat right across the palm or edge of the flat left.
Fr. couper; Ger. schneiden.
Cutting up. See Meat.
Cyclone or Whirlwind. With flat right hand, back to the right and level with the right shoulder, make a spiral upward. A very small one for a little dust whirlwind, and a large violent one for a dangerous cyclone.
Fr. le cyclone; Ger. der Wirbelsturm.