E
Eagle. The sign for Bird is slowly made, then with the G hand in front of the face, back to right, describe a downward curve from between the eyes to indicate the curved bill of the eagle. This same sign is given for Roman nose, but hold the back of the hand forward.
Fr. l’aigle; Ger. der Adler.
Early. See Soon.
Early evening. Sign Sunset and Little of. (C) The Cheyennes understood this, but preferred to swing the Sun sign down to near, but not quite, level.
Fr. au commencement du soir; Ger. früh am Abend.
Early morning. Sign Little and Daybreak, or Sunrise.
Fr. de bon matin; Ger. frühmorgens.
Ear-rings. Make a ring of each index and thumb and apply to each ear-lobe, backs of hands out, other fingers raised.
Fr. les boucles d’oreilles; Ger. das Ohrgehänge.
Earth, the World (All land). Sign All with both flat hands, palms down, then pat down with both hands twice. Compare Land.
Fr. le monde; Ger. die Erde, die Welt.
Earth, Soil, or Dirt. Point down, then with thumb and finger tips, lift and rub some imaginary soil as in Powder.
Fr. la terre; Ger. die Erde, der Schmutz.
Easy, Softly, or Gently. Hold flat hand at face height, fingers half spread and a little curved, palm forward, leaning toward the person and gently and slightly shake the hand from side to side. (Sioux and Blackfoot.) With slight modification, much used on the railway in shunting. Compare Rub it out, Question, and Do not.
Fr. doucement; Ger. sachte.
Eat or Food. Throw the nearly compressed right hand lightly in a curve past the mouth several times. Compare Water and Drink.
Fr. manger; Ger. essen.
Eaten enough (Full to throat). Sign Eat, then lay L hand on breast, palm in, and raise it to opposite chin. Compare Hang.
Fr. assez mangé; Ger. satt gegessen.
Effect. See Result.
Effort. See Try.
Egg. Sign Bird and Born; then indicate the size of the egg with finger and thumb of one or both hands.
Fr. l’oeuf; Ger. das Ei.
Either, Or. Hold out left V hand, back up; tap each finger in turn with right G. Compare Both.
Fr. l’un ou l’autre, ou ... ou; Ger. entweder ... oder.
Elk or Wapiti. Hold the hands above the head at arm’s length on each side, thumb and first two fingers of each spread, others closed; jerk them forward two or three times for three or four inches. Compare Deer, Moose, and Caribou.
Fr. le cerf du Canada; Ger. das Elentier.
Empty, Absent, Gone, or Out of. Place the right 5 hand, points up, in the left C hand, which is back, forward, and down; drop the right hand down out of the left, closing left to O. Compare All gone.
Fr. vide; Ger. leer.
Encamp. See Camp.
Encircle. See Surround.
Enclosure. Hold out both 5 hands level, palm to palm, finger tips touching; swing them apart in a horizontal circle; draw them back; end with fingers wide apart and heels touching. A much-used sign. See Corral.
Fr. l’enclos; Ger. die Einzäunung.
End. See Done.
Endure, Suffer, or Stand it (Suffering, but strong and erect). Hold flat curved right hand close in front of breast, breathe heavily, swinging the hand near and from; then raise the right A hand in a curve out and up, about head high. (Sheeaka.) Understood, but not used by Cheyennes.
Fr. supporter; Ger. aushalten, leiden.
Enemy. Sign Shake hands and Not. Sometimes use Hate.
Fr. l’ennemi; Ger. der Feind.
Engaged or Betrothed (Ring-bound). Sign Prisoner, then with right index indicate a ring on ring finger of left hand. (D)
Engaged. Sign Bye and bye, Marry. See Courting.
Fr. fiancé; Ger. verlobt.
Engagement (i.e., Business). Swing the flat hands, palms up, up and down for six or eight inches, as in Road, but not progressing. Or, sign Road and Meet.
Fr. l’engagement, l’obligation; Ger. die Verabredung.
Enlist. Sign Work and Soldier.
Fr. enrôler; Ger. sich anwerben lassen.
Enough or Full in general sense (Levelling off a full measure). Hold out left O hand, back to left, and across the top from right to left pass the flat palm of the open right hand. Sometimes add Strong, to mean Plenty. See Eaten enough.
Fr. assez; Ger. genug.
Enter or Come into. Hold out hollow left, back up, and pass compressed right hand under and beyond.
Fr. entrer; Ger. eintreten.
Equal, Even, Same, Too, Also (Even race). Hold G hands in front of breast, side by side, backs up, pointing to front, about two inches apart; push them forward together and a little up in a sweep. A much-used sign. Compare Race, Parallel, Marry, and Mate.
Fr. égal, le même; Ger. gleich, egal, genau so.
Erase or Annul. Sign Wrong and Wipe out. See Rub it out.
Fr. effacer; Ger. auslöschen, ausstreichen.
Escape. See Free.
Even or Same. See Equal.
Evening. Sign Night and Little of. (C) See Early evening.
Fr. le soir; Ger. der Abend.
Ever. See Always.
Evil or Sin. Sign Work and Bad.
Evil Eye. Close all fingers of right hand, except index and little finger; to point these at any one means “You have the Evil Eye.” In Italy this is an insult. (Pop.) In France it means “Shame on you,” or “I put you to shame.” (Pop.)
Fr. la main à corne; Ger. das Hexenauge.
Except or Unless. See But.
Excessive, Too much, Unjust, Too (Extremely, piled up). With right palm down, make a succession of curves, marking stages each higher than the last, beginning very low; then finish by swinging both hands, palm down, away up and forward. (Sheeaka.) Or sign Heap. Sometimes use Enough.
Fr. excessif, trop; Ger. übermässig, zu viel.
Exchange. See Trade.
Excite, Agitate (Heart flutters). Sign Heart, then hold the 5 hand near the heart, back to right, pointing upward; raise it a foot shaking the fingers. The Blackfeet use this for Glad, and in most cases among the Cheyennes it implies pleasant excitement.
Fr. exciter; Ger. aufregen.
Excuse. See Wipe out.
Exist. See Be.
Expect. See Hope.
Explain. See Describe.
Exterminate, Annihilate, Crush, Destroy, etc. (Crushed and wiped out). Drop flat right on flat left, palm to palm, grind them together, then brush the right over the left tips, to front and beyond. Compare Wipe out.
Fr. exterminer; Ger. vernichten.