P
Pack. Hold out left flat hand, back to left (this is the horse); bring right flat hand and place palm against
left thumb, fingers pointing to front (this is the right pack); raise the right hand and place palm against upper part of left (this is the left pack); repeat these motions quickly.
Fr. emballer; Ger. packen.
Pain. See Ache.
Paint. Use all the fingers of right hand as a brush painting the left palm. Recent Cheyenne.
Fr. peindre; Ger. anstreichen, malen.
Paint the cheeks. Sign Red, then rub the cheeks and front of the face with palm of flat right hand moved in small circles.
Fr. se farder; Ger. schminken.
Palsy. Both flat hands, backs up, near breast, shaking.
Fr. la paralysie agitante; Ger. die Schüttellähmung.
Panther. See Mountain Lion.
Paper (Square to write on). With G fingers outline a square, then make as though to write on it with right G.
Fr. le papier; Ger. das Papier.
Parallel, or Side by Side. The index fingers of G hands laid side by side, not touching and not moving. Some make right index point to left and left to right in this. Compare Equal, Race, and Marry.
Fr. parallèle; Ger. parallel, gleichlaufend.
Pardon, Liberate, or Turn Loose (Removing a halter). Hold both L hands, palms up, near the neck, one on each side; sweep them up, over, forward and down, as though removing a halter; at the finish the index fingers are pointing forward and down. Sometimes add Go. See Excuse and Free.
Fr. pardonner; Ger. begnadigen.
Part. If one-half, indicate it as in the sign for that word; if less, hold the right hand nearer end of index, according to portion desired to be represented. See Half and Some.
Fr. la partie; Ger. der Teil.
Partner. See Mate.
Parturition. See Born.
Pass by. See Avoid.
Past (Time back). Make the sign for Time and jerk the thumb backward over the right shoulder, all fingers closed. (Sheeaka.) Or throw the flat hand back over shoulder. In general, sign Time, Back. See Ago and Back.
Fr. le passé; Ger. die Vergangenheit.
Pasture. See Corral.
Patrol. See Band.
Pawnee. See Indian Tribes.
Pawnshop (House of three balls). House and hold left hand up with thumb, first and second fingers pointing straight down; then make a hoop of right thumb and index and apply it in succession to the three hanging tips. (Pop. and acceptable to Indians.)
Fr. le Mont-de-Piété; Ger. das Leihhaus, das Pfandhaus.
Pax. See Fins.
Pay (i.e., “Will you give me?” or “Will you pay?”). Hold the right hand forward at level of waist, palm up, fingers half closed, rubbing the tip of first finger and tip of thumb together. (Popular and understood by Sheeaka.) The Cheyennes sign Money, Give me.
Fr. payer; Ger. bezahlen.
Peace. Clasp the hands in front of body.
Fr. la paix; Ger. der Friede.
Peak. Sign Mountain, Part; then hold up high all fingers of right hand in a point, back under.
Fr. le pic; Ger. die Spitze.
Peas. Sign Plant, then with right index and thumb as in Little of tap five or six times in a row along the side of the left G.
Fr. les pois; Ger. die Erbsen.
Pekan. See Fisher.
Penny. Sign Red, Money.
People. Hold up the 5 hands, points up, and add All. Compare Nation and Dance.
People. Hold up both G hands at various heights, as in Man sign. (Sheeaka.)
Fr. le peuple; Ger. die Leute, das Volk.
Pepper (Black sprinkler). Sign Black, then use right O hand as tho it held a sprinkler. A Blackfoot sign understood by Cheyennes.
Fr. le poivre; Ger. der Pfeffer.
Perhaps. See If.
Permit. See Free.
Perplexed. See If and Consider.
Petrol. See Spirit.
Period or Full stop. Use Done both No. 1 and No. 2.
Fr. le point; Ger. der Punkt.
Persevere, Persist, or Stick to it. Hold both fists near breast and firmly push them forward once or twice. That is, sign Push repeatedly.
Fr. persister; Ger. beharren.
Person or Individual. Sign Man.
Fr. la personne; Ger. die Person.
Photograph. Hold out the nearly flat left hand at arm’s length, face high, palm to you, fingers level, pointing to right; from near it, draw back right fist, palm to left and up, thumb out straight, as though drawing something to the eye; then near the face change the right hand to flat, slightly curved, back forward, fingers
pointing to left, and push it forward against palm of left, as in Print.
Fr. la photographie; Ger. die Photographie.
Picture. Indicate the subject, then hold up both L hands to outline bottom and two sides of a square. With imaginary pencil in right draw on this; left remaining as it was. See Portrait and Photograph.
Fr. le tableau; Ger. das Bild.
Pie. Sign Bread, Round (i.e., with right G, indicate a horizontal circle of proper size), and Sweet. Then sidewise slide the flat right exactly over the flat left, both with palms up. A description, rather than a sign.
Fr. le pâté, la tarte; Ger. die Pastete.
Piece. See Little of.
Pig. See Hog.
Pipe. Hold out right G breast high, back down, with index curled up, pointing forward; jerk it forward once or twice.
Fr. le pipe; Ger. die Pfeife.
Pistol. See Gun.
Pity or Mercy on another (Cry or shed tears for you). Hold G hands, palms downward, index fingers up, in front of and near heart, few inches apart, equally advance and same height; move the hands outward and slightly downward, or toward person. Compare Cry.
Fr. avoir pitié de quelqu’ un; Ger. jemanden bemitleiden.
Pity or Have mercy on me (Cry for me). Hold G hands well out in front of body, as described above, but with backs out; bring them toward body, slightly raising them.
Fr. plaignez-moi, ayez pitié de moi! Ger. haben Sie Mitleid mit mir!
Place or Put (Verb). Hold out flat left, back up; swing compressed right over onto it, then open the right a little. Sometimes omit flat left, or use instead compressed left hand held points up. Compare Bet.
Fr. mettre; Ger. stellen, legen, setzen.
Place (Noun). With right G pointing down, indicate a large circle on the ground. (A Pai-ute sign given by Mallery p. 500, also a popular sign.)
Fr. la place; Ger. der Ort, die Stelle.
Plant or Planting. With right fingers and thumb, open as though to drop a seed, then closed and moved on to drop another farther, and another, all in the same row. Compare Animal and Jump. See Sow.
Fr. planter; Ger. pflanzen.
Play or Recreation. Hold up both slightly curved 5 hands, points up and forward, palm to palm, about eight inches apart. Swing them from side to side together, rotating them so the palms are once to front, once to back on each swing. Compare Dance and Children.
Fr. le jeu; Ger. das Spiel.
Playing or Fooling. Hold out in front of shoulder the slightly curved 5 hand, palm up; rotate slightly by wrist action. See Joke and Laugh.
Fr. jouer; Ger. das Spielen.
Plenty (Many, piled up). Push forward with both 5 hands, palms first, three times (i.e., sign Many); then raise the hands very high, palms forward and down. (Sheeaka.) Or sign Heap or Full. Compare Many.
Fr. l’abondance; Ger. die Fülle.
Ploughing. Hold both fists forward as though holding plough, elbows high; and push forward. Also used for cultivation in general.
Fr. le labourage, labourer; Ger. das Pflügen.
Poison-ivy (Vine, nibbler). Sign Vine; that is, hold left forearm upright, as in Tree, and with right G finger trace a climbing Vine about it; then with thumb and first two fingers of right hand, scratch on edge of flat left, held out back up.
Fr. le toxicodendron; Ger. der Giftefeu, der Giftsumach.
Polecat. See Skunk.
Policeman or Constable. Place the curved right index and thumb, little finger out, against left coat lapel. Compare Medal, Brand, and Name.
Fr. le sergent de ville; Ger. der Schutzmann.
Police-station. Sign Policeman and House.
Fr. le poste de police; Ger. das Polizeibureau.
Ponder. See Consider.
Poor in property (Scraped bare). With right G finger scrape down the left G finger held up, from tip to base, several times. Compare Indian Apache, and Shame.
Fr. pauvre; Ger. arm.
Poor in flesh. See Thin.
Porcupine (Prickly hair). Sign Hair; then with tips of right 5 hand strike or prick the left palm, held facing the right.
Fr. le porc-épic; Ger. das Stachelschwein.
Portrait. Hold up the flat left hand, back forward, as though it were a Mirror, then sketch on the same with an imaginary pencil, add Face and indicate the person. See Photograph and Picture.
Fr. le portrait; Ger. das Bild(nis).
Positive of adjectives. See Comparative.
Possesses, Possession, Yours, His own, Belonging to, etc. (Held in the hand.) Hold right A hand, back to right, in front of the neck, or even the forehead, and a few inches from it. Swing it forward and down so the thumb is pointing straight forward.
Fr. posséder; Ger. besitzen.
Potato. Curved 5 right hand held as low as possible, back down.
Fr. la pomme de terre; Ger. die Kartoffel.
Pour. Hold out the left O hand, back to left, and pour into it with the right O hand.
Fr. verser; Ger. gieszen.
Powder. Hold out left hand, palm up; just above it, rub thumb and finger tips of right. Or commonly omit left hand. Compare Dust.
Fr. la poudre; Ger. das Pulver, der Puder.
Power. See Can.
Prairie, Smooth land, Flat, or Level (Level wide). Flat hands side by side, palms up; then slowly wide spread on same plane. In conversation, usually but one hand is used. Compare Free and Broad.
Fr. la prairie, la plaine; Ger. die Prärie, die grosze Ebene.
Prairie-chicken. See Grouse.
Prairie-dog. Sign Mound, Hole; then push right G up through hole and add Talk.
Fr. la marmotte de la prairie; Ger. der Präriehund.
Praise. See Applause.
Pray. Lay the flat hands palm to palm, point them to the sky, then draw down toward self; repeat. (Sheeaka.)
Pray. Look up, sign Talk (No. 1.) straight.
Fr. prier; Ger. beten.
Present (Time). Same as Now.
Pretty. See Beautiful.
Pride, Proud, or Vain. Draw the flat hand, palm down, over face to breast; throw back head, look up and add Good. (Blackfoot.) This is their sign for Beautiful with the addition of the head thrown back. Or sign He, Think, He, Big Chief. See Conceit.
Fr. la fierté, fier; Ger. der Stolz, stolz.
Priest. Sign Robe and Black.
Fr. le prêtre; Ger. der Priester.
Print. Push the back of right flat curved hand slowly and firmly against the palm of the left curved ditto, as in Picture, only several times. Compare Quandary, Approach, Photograph etc.
Prison (House of bars). Sign for House, then hold 4 hands up, side by side for prison bars. Add Man and Look through.
Prison. Sign Prisoner and House.
Fr. la prison; Ger. das Gefängnis.
Prisoner (Arrested). Clinch the fists and cross the wrists as though bound, and press down a little.
Fr. le prisonnier; Ger. der Gefangene.
Private. See Secret.
Produce and Product. See Result.
Prominent or Conspicuous (Stands on a hill). Sign Hill up high, then lay right G against it, pointing up, palm to self, back of right against left hand. See Famous.
Fr. éminent; Ger. hervorragend.
Promise (Word bound). Place the forefinger of right G perpendicularly against mouth; bring down fist and, parallel with it, the other fist, thumbs up; strike both down together twice. (Sheeaka.) Also see Word of Honor, or Cross my Heart.
Promise. Sign Talk (i.e., Word), Give.
Promise, Sworn (I swear). Tap the chest with tips of flat right hand, then raise it, palm forward, and add Talk. (Sheeaka.) Compare Oath.
Fr. la promesse, promettre; Ger. das Versprechen, versprechen.
Proof or Prove. See Show.
Propose. See Offer.
Protect. See Defend.
Fr. protéger; Ger. beschützen.
Push. The same as Begin, which see.
Fr. pousser; Ger. schieben.
Put. See Place.