S
Sacred. See Medicine.
Sad. See Sorrow.
Saddle. Hold out both S hands, palms up, side by side (sometimes inches apart), about height of shoulders, forearms vertical, wrists bent so backs of hands are nearly down.
Fr. la selle; Ger. der Sattel.
Safe. See Recover or Alive.
Sage Brush (Bunches). With all finger tips together pointing up, swing the hand to various places in front of right shoulder. (C) Compare Peak and Canoe.
Sage. Sign White, Good smell, Grass.
Fr. la plante aromatique de la prairie; Ger. der Präriebusch.
Salt. Sign Powder, then the act of sprinkling with finger and thumb. (Blackfoot.) Touch the tongue cautiously with the right G. Compare Sugar and Pepper.
Fr. le sel; Ger. das Salz.
Same. See Equal.
Sanctuary, to claim. See Bar up.
Satisfied. See Contented.
Save. See Recover, also Free.
Save or Except. See But.
Savey or Sabe. This word universal in the west is the same sign as Know.
Saw. With lower edge of right, thumb up, saw across the upper edge of left wrist held out horizontally.
Fr. la scie; Ger. die Säge.
Say. See Call.
Scalp (To). Point to scalp, make as though pulling it forward and sign Cutting under. The last two gestures being done out in front of the body.
Fr. scalper; Ger. die Kopfhaut abziehen.
Scatter! (A command to scouts). See Go and Scatter.
Scatter or Sow (As seeds). Hold the closed hands, backs up, near each other and close to breast; move right hand well to front and right, left well to front and left; that is, widely separate the hands, swinging each in a half-circle out, so the palms are a little outward, at the same time extending and separating fingers and thumbs. (C) Compare Bad and Scorn; in these the hands are not moved apart.
Scatter. Swing closed right to left, there opening to 5 so palm is to left and forward; then same movement with hand opened to right, each time in a graceful sweep. The Cheyennes say the above is Throw away.
Fr. disperser, semer; Ger. ausstreuen, säen.
Schoolhouse. Sign House and Writing; usually preceded by Children.
Fr. l’école; Ger. die Schule.
Schoolteacher. Sign Book and Chief.
Fr. le maître d’ école; Ger. der Lehrer.
Scold. See Abuse; also Fault-finding.
Scorn. Turn the head away and with one hand throw an imaginary handful of sand toward the feet of the person. This is the same as Bad, except for the turn of the head.
Fr. le mépris; Ger. die Verachtung.
Scout. Same as Wolf, but hold the hand near the right ear. Sometimes use Advance Guard, which see. The Cheyennes sometimes sign it as Wolf, Soldier.
Fr. le coureur (d’ armée); Ger. der Späher.
Scout, to. Sign Wolf and Look.
Fr. aller à la découverte; Ger. spähen.
Scout; that is, Boy Scout. Hold up the right hand with finger and thumb forming a ring, other three fingers straight up. (Pop.)
Fr. le petit éclaireur; Ger. der jugendliche Pfadfinder.
Scout; of the highest degree. Add the sign Wolf to the foregoing. (Suggested.)
Scout leader or Patrol leader. Sign Boy Scout; then lay the 4 left hand on left side of head to indicate plume. (Suggested.)
Scout, Tenderfoot. Make signs Boy Scout and Small. (Suggested.)
Sculptor. Right fist closed, thumb held up straight and free, then used as a trowel on an imaginary wall. (Pop.)
Fr. le sculpteur; Ger. der Bildhauer.
Search me. With a hand grasping each lapel, spread open the coat. (Pop.)
Fr. examinez-moi; Ger. was weisz ich? (Pop.)
Seasons. The four seasons are Little Grass (Spring); High Grass (Summer); Leaf Fall (Autumn); and Cold or Snow (Winter). Each is given in alphabetic place.
Secret or Private (Talk under cover). Left hand flat, horizontal, near left cheek; with right, sign Talk under it. Usually sign Talk and Hide.
Fr. le secret; Ger. das Geheimnis.
Seek. See Hunt.
See. The fingers of V hand pointed forward (as in Look) then advanced a little in the line of sight; sometimes for extra point, it is changed into G hand and pushed forward. Also compare Hunt and Lie, Look and Find. The difference between Look and See is not observed by most Indians; but it is well to maintain it.
Fr. voir; Ger. sehen.
See me. Point at one’s own chin with the right V hand and touch breast.
Fr. voyez-moi; Ger. sehen Sie mich.
Seem. See Appear.
Seize. Move the open hands forward; grasp and draw back as though seizing some object.
Fr. saisir; Ger. ergreifen.
Select. See Choose.
Sell. See Trade. On the Stock Exchange, the clenched fist thrown forward and down means Sell. Probably in imitation of the auctioneer’s hammer. See Kill.
Sell, Sold or Bought i.e., Marketed. On middle of side of left G held out, tap two or three times with middle side of right G. This is also used for Buy, which see for illustration. It is supposed to have had origin in an old gambling game. See Trade.
Fr. vendre; Ger. verkaufen.
Send (Command and Go). Hold the right A near the breast; swing it out, up and down a foot; then swing the right G higher and farther. (Sheeaka.)
Fr. envoyer; Ger. senden, schicken.
Separate or Apart. Lay the G fingers side by side, backs up; spring them apart, widest at tips, moving them forward and out.
Fr. séparer; Ger. trennen.
Several. Extend the fingers of the right A hand, one at a time, beginning with the index. (Sheeaka.)
Fr. plusieurs; Ger. mehrere.
Sew. Hold flat left hand index edge up, thumb level with index; move right G hand index with extended thumb, across left index once or twice as in sewing; each time nearer the body and each time turning the right index nail down, as it is moved forward. Compare Awl.
Fr. coudre; Ger. nähen.
Shade. Sign Sun, Not.
Shadow (Of a person). Indicate the person; then sign Going, There by me, Same. There by me is indicated by pointing to the ground on the left side with right G.
Fr. l’ombre; Ger. der Schatten.
Shall. See Will.
Shaman. See Medicine-man.
Shame (On you). (The finger of scorn made sharper.) Point left index at person, all others closed; and with right index similarly held, rub it on back of left index from middle to tip and beyond. (Pop.) See Ashamed. In France the idea is conveyed by the Horns. See Evil Eye.
Fr. fi! fi donc! (Pop.); Ger. Schäme dich!
Sharp or Keen. Hold out flat right hand, palm up; touch little finger edge lightly with ball of left thumb and add Good. For Sharp points see Porcupine.
Fr. affílé; Ger. scharf.
Shave. Use the flat right hand as a razor, palm to
right, points up, little finger next right cheek as the edge; move it toward the right ear.
Fr. (se) raser; Ger. (sich) rasieren.
Shawl. Sign Blanket and Fringe. For Fringe, hold out the left 5 hand points forward, level; then push the similar right over it forward several times.
Fr. le châle; Ger. der Schal.
She. Sign Female and point with G finger at the person.
Fr. elle; Ger. sie.
Sheep, Mountain, or Bighorn. With compressed hands above each eye, pointed backward, trace the sweep of horns, ending below ears, with points turned forward.
Fr. le mouton sauvage; Ger. das amerikanische Groszhornschaf.
Sheep, Common. Sign Bighorn and White Man.
Fr. le mouton; Ger. das Schaf.
Shell. Hold the curved hands side by side, close and open them on the under side, as though hinged on top. Compare Boat, Book, Bowl, and Open.
Fr. la coquille; Ger. die Muschelschale.
Shield (Noun). With both L hands a little apart, index fingers pointed down, make a large incomplete circle to left of left breast. See Protect.
Fr. le bouclier; Ger. der Schild.
Shine, Shimmer, or Glitter. Hold out the curved right 5 hand, palm down; lower it slightly, shaking it quickly sidewise. Compare Snow, Glitter, and Easy.
Fr. briller, étinceler; Ger. scheinen, glänzen.
Ship. Raise and spread thumb and two first fingers to be masts, others closed; then push the hand forward slowly in a rising and falling line. (Deaf sign for Sailing Ship. For Indian sign see Boat, Big.)
Fr. le navire; Ger. das Schiff.
Shoe. Sign Moccasin, White Man.
Fr. le soulier; Ger. der Schuh.
Shoot (A gun). See Fire.
Shoot (An arrow). Sign Bow, then snap the index fingers out straight. To add Hit with an arrow, hold up the flat left and thrust the right G through it.
Fr. lancer (une flèche); Ger. schieszen.
Shop. See Store.
Short. For things which grow, hold the flat hand back forward, fingers pointing up at desired height. For things which do not grow, use the flat hand, palm down; or else, both flat hands side by side, palm to palm. The same as Low.
Fr. court; Ger. kurz.
Shot-gun. See Gun.
Shout. See Yell.
Show, Prove, Proof, or Behold. Raise flat left hand, palm forward. Lay index of right G on it and turn the two about, pushing them forward as though to show something. (Sheeaka. Borrowed from the Deaf.)
Show, Prove, Proof, or Behold. Hold out the flat left, palm up, pointing forward and down. Point to the person in question with right G, then at left palm with right V.
Fr. montrer; Ger. zeigen.
Sick, Suffering, Sick one, or Invalid (Throbbing). Hold flat hands out near breast; move the hands quickly outward and back several times. Compare Lungs.
Fr. malade; Ger. krank.
Side by Side. See Parallel.
Sign Language, To talk in Sign Language. Touch the back of left hand with tip of right, the back of right with tip of left and add Talk. (C)
Fr. le langage des signes; Ger. die Gebärdensprache.
Silence, Silent, or Hush. Lay the extended index, pointing upward, over the mouth. In the more vigorous form of Shut up, lay the flat hand on the mouth (recent).
Fr. silence! taisez-vous!; Ger. schweigen! still!
Silly. See Foolish.
Silver. Sign Money and White.
Fr. l’argent; Ger. das Silbergeld.
Sin or Badness. Same as Bad. See Evil.
Since. See After.
Sing. Hold right V hand, back to right, in front of face; finger tips a little higher than and close to mouth, pointing nearly up. Move the hand briskly so finger tips describe a small horizontal circle. Compare Lie and Abuse.
Fr. chanter; Ger. singen.
Sioux. See Indian.
Sister. Sign Woman and Brother.
Fr. la soeur; Ger. die Schwester.
Sister-in-law. Sign Brother-in-law and Woman.
Fr. la belle-soeur; Ger. die Schwägerin.
Sit, Sit down, or Remain. Hold the right A hand in front of and a little lower than right shoulder, back to right; move the hand emphatically downward a few inches. Compare Wait and Aboard.
Fr. s’asseoir; Ger. sitzen.
Skin. See Hide.
Skinny. See Lean.
Skunk or Polecat. Indicate Size and tail up; that is, curving G up, palm forward; move in gentle jerks forward, and then add Smell, Bad. Compare Weasel.
Fr. la bête puante, la mouffette; Ger. das amerikanische Stinktier.
Sky. See Heavens.
Sled or Sleigh (The runners). Both G hands, backs down, 4 inches apart; index fingers curved and pushed forward. The idea is helped by Snow on Ground.
Fr. le traineau; Ger. der Schlitten.
Sleep. Hold both flat hands, backs up, in front of breast, same level; swing both over to the left in an up and down curve, in which the right (only) turns palm up; the left continues back up; then lower the head a little to right. Some finish with both palms up.
Journeys are one sleep, two sleeps, etc., on the Plains.
Fr. le sommeil, dormir; Ger. der Schlaf, schlafen.
Sleepy. Rub the eyes with the fists. (Pop.) Or yawn and lay the head on one side, closing the eyes. (Sheeaka.) Both of these are understood by the Cheyennes, but they use Want, Sleep.
Fr. avoir sommeil; Ger. schläfrig.
Slow. Hold out the flat left hand, palm to right; ditto right hand opposite, palm to left; in slow jerks, move the left hand forward; at the same time, jerk the right, making the latter fall behind. Compare Fast.
Fr. lent; Ger. langsam.
Small, Few, or Crowded. Compress both hands so the fingers are straight, but at an angle with the back of the hand; hold them about eight inches apart, backs out, pointed up and forward, right higher; move them together till the right is over the left. Sometimes the Cheyennes made this sign with the closed fists to mean Few. Compare Little.
Fr. peu; Ger. wenig.
Smaller, to make. See Decrease.
Smart. See Cunning.
Smell. Hold V hand, back up, fingers pointing to chin; swing fingers up so the nose passes between them. Compare Blood and Brother. Place the palm close before the tip of the nose. (Pop.)
Fr. sentir; Ger. riechen.
Smell, A bad smell, or Stink. Sign Smell and hold the nostrils, or sign Bad. (Sheeaka.)
Fr. la mauvaise odeur, la puanteur; Ger. der üble Geruch, der Gestank.
Smell, A good smell. Sign Smell and Good.
Fr. la bonne odeur; Ger. der gute Geruch, der Duft.
Smoke. For distant smoke, like a signal-fire smoke, make sign for Fire and continue raising hand in a spiral till higher than head.
Fr. la fumée; Ger. der Rauch.
Smoke a pipe (Action of filling it). Hold up the left A, thumb up, tap on top two or three times with flat right, then add Pipe, jerking it forward two or three times.
Fr. fumer (une pipe); Ger. rauchen (eine Pfeife).
Smoke a cigarette. Put index and thumb to mouth as though holding a cigarette. (Blackfoot.)
Smooth or Level. Rub the back of the flat left hand, held palm down, with whole palm of the flat right, back and forth, in long strokes. Sometimes use Prairie. Compare Indian and At.
Fr. lisse; Ger. glatt.
Smooth Ground. See Prairie.
Snake (Its motion). Hold the right H (or sometimes G) hand, back to right, waist high, fingers pointing to front; move it several inches to front in a sinuous line from side to side. Compare Fish, Creek, and Rope.
Fr. le serpent; Ger. die Schlange.
Sneak. See Run away.
Snow. Raise and spread both hands a foot apart, backs up, fingers curved; then softly lower them in slow, short zigzags. For Rain, the lines down are straight. Years are commonly called Snows or Winters. Compare Shimmer.
Fr. la neige; Ger. der Schnee.
So, Just so (That’s true). Swing the right G index from 45 degree angle down to level; then add Straight, swinging index up slightly at finish. Sometimes sign Yes. Compare Idea.
Fr. si, précisément cela; Ger. so, jawohl.
So that; In order that (So, that). Strike down a foot with the right G in front of breast, then strike it on the left flat hand held opposite left breast. (Sheeaka.)
Fr. de sorte que, pour; Ger. um, damit.
Soap. Rub the hands together as in washing them.
Fr. le savon; Ger. die Seife.
Soft or Muddy Ground (Animal’s legs going down). Form a horizontal half-circle of left index and thumb; drop the right fist into it; reverse the hands and repeat.
Fr. la terre molle, la boue; Ger. die weiche Erde, der Schlamm.
Soft, in general. Sign Hard and Not.
Fr. mou; Ger. weich.
Soil. See Earth.
Soldiers (In a row, spread out). Hold the flattened fists out in front, side by side, backs up so basal joints of the fingers are nearly level and the middle joints form a row; then swing them apart.
In many whose fingers are stiff the row is made with the basal joints plumb, as in the upper cut; but the correct way is as below.
“This represents the line of the Indian soldiers that, pending the order to charge, held back the people in the buffalo hunt.” (Scott.) Compare Ridge, Done, and Fat.
Fr. les soldats; Ger. die Soldaten.
Some (Here and there one). Point with index finger downward and at some near spot on the ground, then change to another farther off, then to another. (Scott.)
Fr. quelques; Ger. einige.
Some, A part of. Hold out level flat left, back forward and out; lay flat right thumb up on left index near the tip; then jerk it toward tip and beyond. This is much like Halve; but the right is casually brushed along the edge of the left and at no time precisely placed.
Fr. du; Ger. etwas.
Sometimes (Different times). Sign Time, moving the hands apart in short jerks. (Seger.) Compare By and by.
Fr. quelquefois; Ger. zuweilen.
Somewhere. Hold right G up near right shoulder; swing it in a curve up and down to opposite left shoulder and back. Also used in the question Where?
Fr. quelque part; Ger. irgendwo(hin).
Son. Sign Born and Male.
Fr. le fils; Ger. der Sohn.
Song or Poem (Written singing). Sign for Sing and Write.
Fr. la chanson; Ger. das Lied.
Soon or Early. Sign Time, then stop with the fingers an inch apart. Compare Sometimes, Time, By and by, Close.
Sorrow, Distress, Discouraged, Down-hearted, Sadness, or Sad (Heart on the ground). Lay the right compressed hand on the heart, pointing down; then throw it forward and down, ending the sign with the flat hand very low, palm up, near the ground.
Fr. le chagrin, la douleur; Ger. das Leid.
Sorry (It grinds my heart). Rub the fist on heart in circle two or three times. (Blackfoot.)
This is less strong than Sorrow and is used as a polite expression of interest, equivalent to “What a pity.” (Eastman.) See also Trouble.
Fr. j’en suis fâché; Ger. leid tun, es thut mir leid.
Soul. See Spirit.
Sour. See Bitter.
Sow. See Sew.
Sow Seeds. See Scatter.
Spark. See Fire.
Speak. See Talk.
Spear. Make as though thrusting a spear with both hands.
Fr. la lance; Ger. der Speer.
Speech, Message, or Talk. That is, a long talk, as at council, by oneself. (Handing out words.) Hold the flat right hand, back down, pointing to left, at lower lip and swing it forward several times. Compare Discussion and Talk.
Fr. la harangue; Ger. die Rede.
Speech to me or Tell me. Speech by another addressed to oneself is the same as the preceding, but swing the right hand in toward the chin instead of out. Compare Drink, Water, Discussion, and Talk.
Spell, that is, Spell it. Make writing in the air, then sign Talk.
Fr. écrivez le; Ger. buchstabieren Sie es.
Spider. Hold the palm of the right hand about one and a half inches from a flat surface; spread the fingers and thumb and work them like legs; the hand represents the body. (Scott.) Compare Bunch and Herd.
Fr. l’araignée; Ger. die Spinne.
Spirit or Petrole (Water of strong power). There is no established sign; but Sheeaka understood this combination: Water and Strong. A Cheyenne gave it Lantern, Different, Strong, Pour.
Fr. l’essence, le pétrole; Ger. das Benzin.
Splendor. See Glow.
Spoon. Use the cupped right hand as a spoon.
Fr. la cuiller; Ger. der Löffel.
Spotted. Hold out the level left arm and with right curved 5 hand finger tips tap the left arm at various places on the inside, from the wrist up, as though flecking it with the tip of a brush, at both up and down strokes. Compare Striped.
Fr. tacheté; Ger. getupfelt.
Spring (Water coming up and spreading). Make the sign for Water, then a large horizontal circle with L hands (as in Hole); then push the right compressed hand up through the left L hand and, as it comes up, extend the fingers with a slight snap to represent the bubbling water.
Fr. la source; Ger. die Quelle.
Spring (Little grass time). Sign Grass and Short. Add Time if there is doubt.
Show longer grass for June, etc.
Fr. le printemps; Ger. der Frühling.
Squeeze. See Few.
Squirrel. Hold both compressed hands near the mouth and give a quick motion of the lips. (Ruggles.) Or sign Tree with left hand, then with compressed right hand as in Animal indicate running up and around.
Fr. l’écureuil; Ger. das Eichhörnchen.
Squirrel, Flying. Sign Squirrel, Fly; and then with right hand flat, palm down, simulate flight down and up in a long sweep. This is merely a description, not an established sign.
Fr. l’écureuil volant; Ger. das Flughörnchen.
Stand (As a man). Make right V hand stand on left palm, the fingers representing legs. For an animal, use all four fingers of right. See Alight.
Fr. se tenir debout; Ger. stehen.
Stand up (As a tree or pole). Hold G hand, back forward, erect over shoulder. Compare Tall and Up.
Fr. être debout; Ger. aufrecht stehen.
Star. Make the sign for Night, then cross the right G with left G near the tips and hold up high. Some flirt the index tip from behind the curved thumb in different directions up high, to mean twinkling. This is nearly like Talk up high.
Fr. l’étoile; Ger. der Stern.
Stay. Sign Stop, Wait, and Sit down.
Fr. rester; Ger. bleiben.
Steal (To seize under cover). Hold out flat left hand pointing out, back up; reach right G hand under
wrist, then draw it back with a sweep, curving it into a hook at the same time.
Fr. voler; Ger. stehlen.
Steamboat. Sign Boat, Big, Fire, holding the hand above the forehead for the last.
Fr. le bateau à vapeur; Ger. das Dampfboot.
Stingy. See Mean.
Stink. Sign Bad Smell.
Stir. Hold left as in C, back out, and make as though stirring its contents with a ladle held in right. Compare Tea.
Fr. remuer; Ger. rühren.
Stone. Sign Rock and Lump.
Stop. See Halt.
Stop or Full Stop. See Period.
Store or Shop. Sign House and Trade.
Fr. le magasin, la boutique; Ger. der Laden.
Storm. Sign Strong then Wind, shaking the fingers when opened and sometimes adding the sound of blowing.
Fr. l’orage, la tempéte; Ger. der Sturm.
Story. See History.
Straight. See Honest; also True.
Stranger. Sign, My, People, Not. Or Man, Different.
Fr. l’étranger; Ger. der Fremde.
Stream. See River.
Strike. Hold out flat left, palm up; strike it with the edge of flat right hand. Compare Chop and Kill.
Fr. frapper; Ger. schlagen.
Strike, To make a. See Count Coup.
Striped. Hold out flat left with forearm level and draw the right flat palm across it at different points on the upper side. Compare Spotted.
Fr. rayé; Ger. gestreift.
Strong. With left fist, back out, grasp an imaginary stick; then also grasp it four inches higher with right fist, back in. Give a strong outward twist to the right, finishing with the right fist below the left and back downward. The left is not moved. This means physically strong in most cases, and few Indians distinguish this from Very much; which see. Compare Little.
Fr. fort; Ger. stark.
Subtract or Take from. Holding out the flat left, palm toward you, with all the right fingers and thumb make as though seizing something on the left palm; draw the right to you and down. (Sheeaka. Borrowed from the Deaf.) Compare Place.
Fr. soustraire; Ger. abziehen.
Succeed. Sign Push, Work, and Finish. Compare Fail.
Fr. réussir; Ger. Erfolg haben.
Suffering. See Sick.
Sugar or Sweet. Rub the tongue with tips of extended index and second finger of right hand, then add Good. Compare Salt and Bitter.
Fr. le sucre; Ger. der Zucker.
Sullen or Sulky. Sign Heart, Angry, Hide. (Blackfoot.) See Gloomy.
Summer (Time of high grass). Sign High, Grass. Or sometimes sign Hot only.
Fr. l’été; Ger. der Sommer.
Sun. Form a circle with index and thumb of right hand; hold hand toward east and swing it in a great up-curve toward the west. In conversation, the circle is often incomplete.
Fr. le soleil; Ger. die Sonne.
Sunday. Sign Day and Medicine.
Fr. le dimanche; Ger. der Sonntag.
Monday is Day after Medicine Day.
Fr. le lundi; Ger. der Montag.
Tuesday is Two Days after Medicine Day.
Fr. le mardi; Ger. der Dienstag.
Wednesday is Three Days after Medicine Day.
Fr. le mercredi; Ger. der Mittwoch.
Thursday is Four Days after Medicine Day.
Fr. le jeudi; Ger. der Donnerstag.
Friday is Two Days before Medicine Day.
Fr. le vendredi; Ger. der Freitag.
Saturday is Little Medicine Day.
Fr. le samedi Ger. der Sonnabend.
Sunrise. Make a ring of the right index and thumb, others closed, level, at full length toward the east; then raise it, chiefly by wrist action, so the ring is nearly at an angle of 45 degrees.
Fr. le lever du soleil; Ger. der Sonnenaufgang.
Sunset. The reverse of Sunrise; that is, hold the ring to the west and swing it down from 45 degrees to level or lower.
Fr. le coucher du soleil; Ger. der Sonnenuntergang.
Superior or Higher (One above another). Hold both G fingers side by side, upright, one of them higher to represent the person or thing. When it is One above many use the left “5” hand instead of left G. See Rising Man, also Chief.
Fr. supérieur; Ger. höher (stehend), vorgesetzt.
Superlative. See Comparative; also Very much.
Supper. Sign Night and Eat.
Fr. le souper; Ger. das Abendessen.
Surprise, You surprise me. Hold flat hand on the mouth. This can be made stronger by using both
hands. Sometimes also for emphasis precede this with a slap down of the flat right on the flat left, palm to palm. See Astonishment.
Fr. étonner; Ger. überraschen.
Surrender or Give up. (No weapons.) Hold both 5 hands, palms forward, at height of head. Sometimes one hand only.
Fr. rendre, se rendre; Ger. sich ergeben.
Surround or Encircle. Hold out both L hands at arm’s length, then swing them together to form a level circle. See Enclosure.
Fr. entourer; Ger. umgeben.
Swap. See Trade.
Swear. See Oath.
Sweat. Draw the hooked right index across the brow as though wiping off sweat. See Hot.
Fr. la sueur; Ger. der Schweisz.
Sweat Lodge or Turkish Bath. Sign Medicine and Wickey up. (C) Or with 5 hands indicate the shape beginning at top, then sign Open, Enter, Sweat.
Fr. le sudatorium, le bain turc; Ger. das Schwitzbad.
Sweet. See Sugar.
Sweetheart or Lover. Touch G to lips and add Heart. (Modern, but now in general use among Cheyenne boys.)
Sweetheart or Lover. Thrust the right L hand forward, level, back up and to right, turning slowly by wrist action so the thumb rises two or three inches up and down on the axis of the index. Compare Courting and Glitter.
Fr. le bien-aimé; Ger. der Geliebte.
Swift. See Fast.
Swim (Probably to suggest a fish tail in action). That is, “Will you come in swimming?” Hold right hand as high as the face, back forward, all fingers closed except index and middle, these are spread like V and pointed to left. Move the hand a little to right (Pop.)
Fr. nager; Ger. schwimmen.
Swimming. Sign Water, then strike out with hands as in swimming.
Fr. nageant; Ger. schwimmend.
Swoop. See Dive.