form, then up side by side, touching. (Sheeaka.)
=Mate= or =Chum=. Sign _Friend_, _Same_.
Fr. _le camarade_, _le compagnon_; Ger. _der Kamerad_.
=May= or =Maybe=. See _Perhaps_.
=Me.= Touch one’s own chest with the tips of the compressed fingers of
the right hand. (Sheeaka.) Compare _I_.
Fr. _moi_; Ger. _mich_.
=Meals.= For _Breakfast_, sign _Eat_ and _Sunrise_; for _Lunch_, sign
_Eat_ and _Noon_; for _Dinner_, sign _Eat_ and _Sundown_.
Fr. _les repas_; Ger. _die Mahlzeiten_.
=Mean= or =Intend=. Sign _Want_ and _Say_.
Fr. _avoir en vue_, _vouloir dire_; Ger. _beabsichtigen_, _meinen_.
=Mean= or =Stingy=. Sign _Heart_ and _Few_.
Fr. _avare_; Ger. _geizig_.
=Meanwhile.= See _While_.
[Illustration]
=Meat= (=1=). Hold out the flat left, back up; then with the flat right,
palm up, slice pieces off the left palm. This is generally used, but
often with left palm up.
[Illustration]
=Meat= or =Flesh= (=2=). With right index finger and thumb, grasp the
flesh between left index finger and thumb. (Sioux and Blackfoot.) Note,
if this be done by putting the right at the under side of the left, it
is the same as the next sign.
[Illustration]
=Meat= (=3=). Lay the flat left hand, little finger down, between the
thumb and fingers of the flat right, as far in as possible; then pat the
back of the left by opening and closing the right a little and add
_Buffalo_. In conversation, _Buffalo_ without the first sign is often
used for _Meat_, just as we use _Beef_. The first part of this is much
like _Thick_ and _Thin_, but the whole of the left fingers are involved
and the right hand is not slid along.
The right in this, it will be noted, shows the pose of the hand when
holding a thick piece of meat to be cut up for drying.
Clark says there is no sign for _Meat_; yet, obviously, his sign for
_Bacon_ is compounded of _Meat_, _Thin_, and _Greasy_; and the sign he
gives for _Cutting up_, means _Cutting up meat_.
=Meat= (=4=). With right index and thumb, pinch the flesh at the palmar
base of the left thumb. (Father Isadore says this is fixed and universal
among the Comanches.)
Fr. _la viande_; Ger. _das Fleisch_.
[Illustration]
=Medal.= Make a circle of right thumb and index (other fingers closed);
lay it little finger in, on the centre of the breast. (C) Compare
_Policeman_.
Fr. _la médaille_; Ger. _die Medaille_.
[Illustration]
=Medicine=, =Mystery=, =Holy=, =Sacred=, or =Wonderful= (In the sense of
Sacred Mystery). Hold V right hand close to forehead, palm forward,
pointing up, separated; move the hand upward, twisting it so that the
tips of the extended fingers will describe a spiral curve. This is
hardly translatable.
Fr. _le mystère sacré_; Ger. _das heilige Geheimnis_.
=Medicine= (A curative drug or potion). Hold out left C back to left and
pour into it from a bottle in right C hand. If a powder, pour on flat
left palm. If a pill, pour on palm and afterward pick up with index and
thumb. (Pop.) Sign _Medicine_ and _Eat_. (Cheyenne, recent.)
Fr. _la médecine_, _le remède_; Ger. _die Arznei_.
=Medicine-Man= or =Shaman=. Make signs for _Man_ and _Medicine_.
Fr. _le magicien_, _le médecin_; Ger. _der Medizinmann_, _der
Schamane_.
[Illustration]
=Meet.= Hold forefingers of both G hands a foot apart, pointing up, left
farthest off; move together till touching at the tips. Compare _Trade_,
_Mistake_, and _Avoid_.
Fr. _rencontrer_; Ger. _treffen_, _begegnen_.
=Melancholy.= Incline the head slightly forward and rest forehead on
left hand, left forearm close to body. Understood by Cheyennes, but they
prefer _Heart on the Ground_.
Fr. _triste_; Ger. _schwermütig_.
[Illustration]
=Melt=, =Fade=, =Die out=, =Dissolve=. Hold up both “5” hands six inches
apart, fingers pointing up, palms toward you; let the hands drop and
slide aside, gradually assuming compressed position, backs up.
(Sheeaka.)
=Melt.= Sign _Wipe out_, but slide the right palm over the left toward
the tips in small jerks, then over and beyond.
Fr. _fondre_; Ger. _schmelzen_, _vergehen_.
[Illustration]
=Memories.= Head hung forward; right A hand dropped a foot under chin;
then sign _Time_, _Back_. (Blackfoot.)
Fr. _les souvenirs_; Ger. _die Erinnerungen_.
=Memory= or =Remembering=. Sign _Heart_ and _Know_.
Fr. _la mémoire_, _se rappeler_; Ger. _das Gedächtnis_, _sich
erinnern_.
[Illustration]
=Mend.= Lay the right G along to overlap the left G, then hammer on the
left with right fist. (Sheeaka.) Note, this is mending iron or wood; to
mend clothes, lay one index on other as above, then with right sew over
edge of left. (Blackfoot.) The Cheyennes usually sign _Make_ and _Good_.
Compare _Fix_.
Fr. _raccommoder_; Ger. _ausbessern_, _reparieren_.
=Mercy.= In the Roman Arena, the appeal for mercy was made by stretching
the hand with first and second fingers raised and touching; others
closed. (Pop.)
Fr. _la clémence_, _la miséricorde_; Ger. _das Erbarmen_, _die Gnade_.
=Mercy on Another.= See _Pity_.
=Mercy on Me.= See _Pity_.
=Merry.= See _Glad_.
=Message=, i.e., =Spoken=. See _Speech_.
=Metal.= Sign _Hard_ and describe or point to a piece of the metal in
question. Or sign _Strong_, _Hard_.
Fr. _le métal_; Ger. _das Metall_.
=Meteor.= Sign _Star_ and with hand up high sign _Fire_ and let it drop
in a wavy line across the sky.
Fr. _le météore_; Ger. _das Meteor_, _die Feuerkugel_.
=Midday= or =Noon=. _Sun_ and _Straight up_.
Fr. _le midi_; Ger. _der Mittag_.
[Illustration]
=Middle= (The point dividing in half). Hold out the left G hand, finger
level. Drop the right G hand down onto it at the middle joint. Compare
_Half_ and _Centre_.
=Middle.= Strike down with lower edge of flat right between the fingers
of left V held pointing up.
Fr. _le milieu_; Ger. _die Mitte_.
=Middle one.= Hold up three fingers of left, tap the two outer with
right G, then bend the middle one down.
Fr. _celui au milieu_; Ger. _der Mittlere_.
=Midnight.= Sign _Night_ and _Middle_.
Fr. _le minuit_; Ger. _die Mitternacht_.
[Illustration]
=Mile= (Stake, measure, and stake). Hold out closed left at arm’s length
in front of shoulder, back up, index and thumb joined at top; drop it
six inches, point down; then place index and thumb of similar right
against it and swing right out level to right for two or three feet and
drop it as before.
Fr. _le mille_; Ger. _die Meile_.
=Milk.= With both S hands make motion of milking.
Fr. _le lait_; Ger. _die Milch_.
=Milky Way= (Spirit’s Trail). _Die_ and _Way_, and sweep the right hand
high across the sky to show where.
Fr. _la voie lactée_; Ger. _die Milchstrasze_.
=Mingle.= See _Mix_.
=Mink.= Sign _Water_, _Creek_, and _Animal_. (Blackfoot.) Sometimes
indicate size.
Fr. _le foutereau_, _le mink_; Ger. _der Mink_, _der Nerz_.
=Minute= (Division of time). See _Time_. Hold left O hand horizontal for
_Watch_; tap around it with right G finger for _hours_; then for minute
add _One_, _Small_, and _Time_. _Second_ would be the same with added
signs _Few_ or _Very_. (Sheeaka.)
Fr. _la minute_; Ger. _die Minute_.
=Minute= (Very small). Sign _Small_.
Fr. _trés petit_; Ger. _winzig_.
=Mirage.= Hold right 5 hand high, opposite left shoulder, back out,
pointing to left; move it horizontally to right with a tremulous motion.
(C)
Fr. _le mirage_; Ger. _die Luftspiegelung_.
[Illustration]
=Mirror.= Flat right, points up, opposite face, shaken a little forward
and back as though adjusting the distance. Sometimes sign _Look_ first.
Fr. _le miroir_; Ger. _der Spiegel_.
=Mislead.= Sign _Way_, then thrust right G to right and to left, but not
straight. Or sign _Tell_, _Straight_, _Not_.
Fr. _égarer_; Ger. _verleiten_.
=Miss.= See _Avoid_.
=Mist.= See _Fog_.
[Illustration]
=Mistake= (Mark missed). Hold up left G hand, then pass it by with right
G hand.
Fr. _l’erreur_; Ger. _der Irrtum_.
=Mix= or =Mingle.= Hold up the 5 hands, face high, points up, palm to
palm touching; rotate one against the other. If in cookery, imitate the
movement of stirring. Compare _Play_.
Fr. _mélanger_; Ger. _mischen_.
=Moccasin.= Pass the open hands over feet from toe to ankle. Usually but
one hand is used, and it need not touch the foot.
Fr. _le mocassin_; Ger. _der Mokassin_.
[Illustration]
=Mockery= or =Insolent defiance=. Spread the right hand with fingers
straight, point of thumb to point of nose, little finger toward the
enemy. (Pop.) Not Indian originally, but all understand it now.
Fr. _la moquerie_, _la dérision_; Ger. _die Verspottung_.
=Modesty.= Cover the eyes with one flat hand, its fingers well apart.
(Pop.) See _Ashamed_ and _Fog_.
Fr. _la modestie_; Ger. _die Sittsamkeit_, _die Bescheidenheit_.
[Illustration]
=Money= (Coin). With right thumb and index, others closed, make a
horizontal circle. Compare _Sun_, _Fruit_, and _Leaf_.
Fr. _l’argent_; Ger. _das Geld_.
=Money= (Paper). Sign _Writing_ and _Money_.
[Illustration]
=Money= (Bills). Draw the flat left hand edgewise between the thumb and
fingers of the right; then on left palm indicate shape. (C)
Fr. _billets de banque_; Ger. _die Banknoten_.
=Monkey= (Man’s face, dog’s run). Sign _Face_, _Man_, _Dog_, _Goes_.
Fr. _le singe_; Ger. _der Affe_.
=Month= (One Moon). Sign for _One_ and _Moon_ and _Die_.
Fr. _le mois_; Ger. _der Monat_.
Each tribe had, of course, its own names for the months. I have selected
the ones most likely to be widely popular, without regard to their
origin.
[Illustration]
=January= (Snow Moon). Sign _Moon_ and _Snow_.
Fr. _le janvier_; Ger. _der Januar_.
=February= (Hunger Moon). Sign _Moon_ and _Hunger_.
Fr. _le février_; Ger. _der Februar_.
=March= (Crow Moon). Sign _Moon_ and _Crow_.
Fr. _le mars_; Ger. _der März_.
=April= (Grass Moon). Sign _Moon_ and _Short grass_.
Fr. _l’avril_; Ger. _der April_.
[Illustration]
=May= (Planting Moon). Sign _Moon_ and _Planting_.
Fr. _le mai_; Ger. _der Mai_.
=June= (Rose Moon). Sign _Moon_ and _Rose_.
Fr. _le juin_; Ger. _der Juni_.
=July= (Thunder Moon). Sign _Moon_ and _Lightning_.
Fr. _le juillet_; Ger. _der Juli_.
=August= (Red Moon). Sign for _Moon_ and _Red_.
Fr. _l’août_; Ger. _der August_.
[Illustration]
=September= (Hunting Moon). Sign _Moon_ and then draw a bow as in
hunting.
Fr. _le septembre_; Ger. _der September_.
=October= (Leaf-falling Moon). Sign _Moon_ and _Leaf-falling_.
Fr. _l’octobre_; Ger. _der Oktober_.
=November= (Mad Moon). Sign _Moon_ and _Mad_.
Fr. _le novembre_; Ger. _der November_.
=December= (Long Night). Sign _Moon_, _Night_, and _Long_.
Fr. _le décembre_; Ger. _der Dezember_.
[Illustration]
=Moon= (Horns in the sky, or crescent). Close right hand except thumb
and first finger, which forms a half-circle or crescent, held above the
right ear, back of hand forward. Sometimes expressed as _Night_ and
_Sun_.
Fr. _la lune_; Ger. _der Mond_.
[Illustration]
=Moose= (Elk with flat horns). Hold up flat hands for horns; but swing
both backward and forward to indicate width; then, with both “L” hands,
indicate the hanging muzzle. (Blackfoot.)
Fr. _l’orignal_; Ger. _das Elentier_, _der Elch_.
[Illustration]
=More.= Hold out the flat left hand, palm up; then with right make as
though throwing sand on it more and more, three times. (Sheeaka.)
Compare _Most_. See _Repeat_, _Add to_, and _Ahead_.
Fr. _plus_; Ger. _mehr_.
[Illustration]
=Morning= or =Day= (Opening up). Both hands palms down, flat, near
together. Sweep them up, out, and apart; turning the palms up. The same
as _Day_.
[Illustration]
=Morning= or =Dawn=. Hold out both arms level, full length, side by
side, hands flat, backs forward, tips touching; raise them slowly to
half height.
Fr. _le matin_; Ger. _der Morgen_.
=Mosquito.= With right index and thumb make as though pricking right
cheek with a thorn; then slap the place with right palm.
Fr. _le moustique_; Ger. _der Moskito_, _die Stechmücke_.
[Illustration]
=Most.= Sign _More_, then raise the right flat hand high above it.
(Sheeaka.) Or sign _Ahead_, _All_.
Fr. _le plus_; Ger. _meist_, _am Meisten_.
[Illustration]
=Mother= (Nurse or parent, female). With the finger tips of the right
hand, make as though drawing milk from the left breast; add the sign for
_Female_ if necessary. (Scott.) Note the left breast for _Mother_,
nearer the heart; the right breast is for _Father_.
Fr. _la mère_; Ger. _die Mutter_.
=Mother-in-law.= Sign _Brother-in-law_, _Old_, _Woman_.
Fr. _la belle-mère_; Ger. _die Schwiegermutter_.
=Motor car.= Make signs for _Wheels_, _Horse_, _Not_. Or sign _Fire_
twice then make as though holding and turning steering wheel.
Fr. _l’automobile_; Ger. _das Automobil_.
[Illustration]
=Mound= or =Low Hill=. Flat hands together, backs up; separated and
swept down to show shape. Compare _Heap_, which is just the reverse;
also see _Box_.
Fr. _la petite éminence_; Ger. _der Erdhügel_.
=Mount= (A horse). Hold right V to right side pointing up; swing it up
to right, over and down, points down, onto flat left, which is held
thumb up. Or, omit left. (Blackfoot.)
Fr. _monter_; Ger. _steigen_.
=Mountain.= Hold up A hand as in _Hill_, but higher, and add _Hard_. Use
both hands alternately up and down in various places for plural. Compare
_Hill_ and _Lump_.
Fr. _la montagne_; Ger. _der Berg_.
=Mountain Lion=, =Cat=. Sign _Cat_, _Long tail_, and _Jump_. (C) Or with
both L hands indicate large round tracks; then, with right G, pointed
down, raised and down, each time, indicate the zigzag trail. (Paiute
sign, given me by C. B. Ruggles.)
Fr. _le couguar_; Ger. _der Kuguar_.
=Mountain Pass.= See _Gap_.
=Mourn.= With the flat hands used like knives, backs up, little fingers
as though sharp edges, make as though to cut off the hair at each side
of the head, and add _Cry_.
Fr. _s’affliger_; Ger. _trauern_.
[Illustration]
=Mouse= (Night nibbler). Sign _Animal_, with very small jumps, indicate
size and _Night_; then, with right forefinger and thumb, nibble at left
G forefinger.
Fr. _la souris_; Ger. _die Maus_.
[Illustration]
=Move=, =To move camp= (Teepee poles, travois). Both G hands in front,
backs out; lay right forefinger on left at middle joint, crossing at an
angle of 45 degrees, and push both hands forward in slight jerks, each
jerk a day’s journey.
Fr. _changer de place_, _déménager_; Ger. _fortziehen_, _wegrücken_.
=Mowing machine.= Sign _Grass_ and _Knife_; the last at right lower than
waist. Add _Wagon_ if needed to indicate horse mower.
Fr. _la machine à faucher_; Ger. _die Mähmaschine_.
[Illustration]
=Much= or =Many=. Hold curved 5 hands, palm to palm, a foot apart; swing
down together and up face high, closing them; swing a little apart at
the finish.
[Illustration]
=Much= (Heap.) Hold the flat hands so the palms are toward each other,
the left lower, and draw them apart, the left downward, the right
upward. The extent to which they are drawn apart indicates the quantity.
Compare _Big_, _Great_, _Heap_, _Increase_, and _Decrease_.
Fr. _beaucoup_; Ger. _viel_.
=Much, Too.= See _Excessive_.
=Mud.= See _Soft_.
[Illustration]
=Mule.= Hold extended hands alongside of ears, palms to front, fingers
pointing upward; by wrist action, flop the hands to front and rear,
representing motion of mule’s ears.
Fr. _le mulet_; Ger. _das Maultier_.
=Murder.= Sign _Kill_ and _Free_. Meaning an unjustified killing.
Fr. _le meurtre_; Ger. _der Mord_.
=Must.= See _Have to_; also _Begin_ or _Push_. See _Imperative_.
=Muskrat= or =Musquash=. Sign _Beaver_ and _Small_.
[Illustration]
=Muskrat= (Tail, swimming and lump). Hold out right G, back up, nearly
level, pointing forward and to left; shake it, draw it to right; then
hold up compressed right hand, back up, pointing forward, and grasp
right wrist on lower side with left hand. (Blackfoot.)
Fr. _le rat musqué du Canada_, _l’ondatra_; Ger. _die Bisamratte_.
=My=, =Mine=, or =My own=. Sign _Possession_; that is, hold out the A
hand, thumb straight up; then swing it in till it touches the breast; or
sometimes lay the spread flat hand on the breast. (Sheeaka.) See _I_.
=My=, =Mine=, or =My own=. Touch breast with point of compressed right,
then sign _Possession_.
Fr. _mon_; Ger. _mein_.
=Mystery.= See _Medicine_.
N
=Name= (Of a man). Sign _Called_. “What is your name?” would be
_Question_, _You_, _Called_.
[Illustration]
=Name= (Of animal). With right forefinger and thumb, others closed, make
an incomplete circle and lay it palm down against the palm of the flat
left hand, held forward, back to left. Compare _Brand_ and _Called_.
Scott gives it as illustrated.
Fr. _nommer_, _le nom_; Ger. _(be) nennen_, _der Name_.
=Name, To sign one’s= (Thumb print). Press the thumb tip of the A hand
against the palm of the flat left. Compare _Letter_.
Fr. _signer son nom_; Ger. _seinen Namen unterschreiben_.
=Named=. See _Called_.
[Illustration]
=Narrow.= Hold flat hands out, palm to palm, about six inches apart,
fingers level and pointing forward; move them toward each other until
but one inch apart. Compare _Fast_, _Between_, _Few_, and _Road_.
Fr. _étroit_; Ger. _eng_.
[Illustration]
=Nation= (People all). Hold up both 5 hands, swing them toward each
other and away in a great circle. (Sheeaka.) Not well established.
Fr. _la nation_, _le peuple_; Ger. _die Nation_, _das Volk_.
NATIONALITIES:
=American.= Sign _Thirteen_, _Fires_. This was once used on the Ohio,
referring to the Council Fires of the thirteen original colonies. Then
add _Country_ by patting the ground with both flat hands and swinging
them apart and up.
According to Clark, sometimes called _Long Knives_. Draw a long line
east and west; then with flat hand, point up, indicate all south of
it. (Blackfoot.)
Fr. _l’Américain_; Ger. _der Amerikaner_.
=British= (Red coat). Touch the coat; then with fingers brush the
cheeks for _red_.
Fr. _les Anglais_, _les sujets anglais_; Ger. _die Briten_, _das
britische Volk_.
=Canadian= (Shaking off the snow). Shake the coat lapel with right
hand. (D) The Blackfeet draw a long line east and west then with flat
hand point to indicate all north of that line.
Fr. _le Canadien_; Ger. _der Kanadier_.
=Chinaman.= Indicate long tail by signing _Rope_ at back of head.
Fr. _le Chinois_; Ger. _der Chinese_.
=Dutchman= (Long pipe). Place thumb of Y hand at the mouth, draw it
down and outward to indicate the long pipe. (D)
Fr. _le Hollandais_; Ger. _der Holländer_.
=Englishman.= Sign _White Man_, _Far_. (Blackfoot.)
Fr. _l’Anglais_; Ger. _der Engländer_.
=Frenchman.= Hold out the F hand well toward the left, palm up; draw
it across in front of self from left to right, turning it palm down.
(D) To sign _Hairy Man_ would translate the nickname “Poilu.”
Fr. _le Français_; Ger. _der Franzose_.
[Illustration]
=German= (The double eagle). Cross the wrists of both 5 hands, thumb
palm against thumb palm, and work the fingers. (D)
Fr. _l’Allemand_; Ger. _der Deutsche_.
=Great Britain= (Red-coat land). _Land_, _Coat_, and _Red_.
Fr. _la Grande-Bretagne_; Ger. _das Groszbritannien_.
=Holland.= Same as _Dutchman_.
=Indian.= See _Indian_ on p. 106.
=Irishman.= Hold out left S hand, back up; swing right V around it and
end with V resting on back of left. (D) _Green Island Man_ would be
more acceptable.
Fr. _l’Irlandais_; Ger. _der Irländer_.
=Japanese.= Sign _Country_ and _Rising Sun_. Or sign _Man_, _Short_,
_Eyes_, _Oblique_. The last by pushing up the outer corners of the
eyes with G fingers. (These are suggested.)
Fr. _le Japonais_; Ger. _der Japaner_.
=Jew= (Long beard). Placing the fingers of the bent 5 hand on the
chin, draw them down and off, letting the hand assume the flat
position as it leaves the chin. (D)
(As a slang term.) Spread both hands open from opposite each shoulder,
palms forward, and rotate them slightly on the wrist back and forth.
(Pop.)
Fr. _le Juif_; Ger. _der Jude_.
=Italian.= With the little finger of I hand trace a cross in the
centre of the forehead. (D)
Fr. _l’Italien_; Ger. _der Italiener_.
=Mexican= (Bearded White Man). Sign for _White Man_ and _Beard_. In
this case, _Beard_ is made by rotating and jerking the 5 hand before
the chin, points up.
Fr. _le Mexicain_; Ger. _der Mexikaner_.
=Negro.= Sign _White Man_, _Black face_. (C) Sheeaka also fumbled the
open right over the knuckles of the half closed left, to indicate
kinky hair.
Fr. _le nègre_; Ger. _der Neger_.
=Ontario= (Land of Lakes). Make signs for _Country_ and _Lakes_.
(Suggested.)
Fr. _l’Ontario_; Ger. _das Ontario_.
=Russian.= Arms akimbo, i.e., C hand on each side of the waist. (D)
The Cheyennes call them _Ride Easy_ from the Cossack circus
performers; but it is not an established sign. _Bear Man_ is
suggested.
Fr. _le Russe_; Ger. _der Russe_.
=Scotchman= (Plaid clothes). Cross the fingers of the right 5 hand
with those of the left 5 hand on the chest, then let each drop to
continue the lines. (D)
Fr. _l’Écossais_; Ger. _der Schotte_.
=Spaniard.= Sign _Old_, _Mexican_.
Fr. _l’Espagnol_; Ger. _der Spanier_.
=White Man= (Hat man). With G right hand draw first finger across the
brow. (C) For illustration see _White Man_ among W’s.
Fr. _l’homme blanc_; Ger. _der Weisze_.
Other countries are indicated in the Deaf Code by making the initial
letter in the single-handed alphabet and swinging them in a circle in
front of the forehead; but this mode contravenes the fundamental
principle of Signs. (See Introduction.)
Therefore, it is better to wait till a true sign is discovered.
=Near= or =Nearly=. Same as _Close_, which see.
=Near by.= See _By_.
=Nearest.= See _Next_.
=Need= or =Need to=. See _Must_.
=Needle.= Make the sign for _Sew_. (C)
Fr. _l’aiguille_; Ger. _die Nadel_.
=Neighbor.= Sign _Close_ and _Dwell_, or _Sit_, _Close_.
Fr. _le voisin_; Ger. _der Nachbar_.
=Nephew.= Sign _Brother’s_ (or _Sister’s_) _Son_. (C)
Fr. _le neveu_; Ger. _der Neffe_.
[Illustration]
=Never= (_Ever_ and _Not_). Right elbow fixed at side and with right G
hand out straight, describe a complete upright circle, left to right;
then throw the hand down to right in _Not_. (Sheeaka; probably borrowed
from Deaf.)
Fr. _jamais_; Ger. _niemals_.
=Never mind.= See _Rub it out_.
=New.= Sign _Little time_, _Traded_. Or, _Little while_, _Made_, _Good_.
Fr. _neuf_; Ger. _neu_.
=News.= With right G struck down to right and left (for _this_ and
_that_) and _Hear_.
Fr. _les nouvelles_; Ger. _die Nachrichten_.
=Newspaper.= Sign _Writing_ and _Tell_ (i.e., _Talk_) to right and left.
Fr. _le journal_; Ger. _die Zeitung_.
=Next.= See _Neighbor_.
[Illustration]
=Next= or =Second=. Hold out the flat 4 left hand, palm down; with right
G draw the left index toward the right; then tap the middle finger of
left with right index. Or sign _Close_.
Fr. _prochain_; Ger. _nächst_.
[Illustration]
=Night= (Earth covered up). Bring the flat hands, backs up, well apart,
out in front of body, breast high; move them together in outline of a
dome, finally resting right wrist on left. Compare _Hide_.
Fr. _la nuit_; Ger. _die Nacht_.
[Illustration]
=No.= Hold flat right hand, back up, in front of body, fingers pointing
level and nearly forward. Swing the hand in a graceful curve to right
and front, at the same time turning it thumb up, finishing with the back
of hand to right and downward; the hand is swept into its position on a
curve. Usually abbreviated into a short jerk of the flat hand to right,
its palm kept facing left. Compare _Bad_ and _Different_.
For short range, shake the head; this is simple and universal. It is so
natural that babies and animals do it when offered bitter medicine, for
example. (Popular and Indian generally.)
Fr. _non_; Ger. _nein_.
[Illustration]
=No, I won’t listen=; or =Go away, the matter is ended=. Right G hand
upraised to level of face, palm out, index upright; wave the finger hand
from side to side by wrist action. Chiefly used by Cheyennes when
joking. It is general in Latin countries. Compare _White-tailed Deer_.
Fr. _non, allez!_ Ger. _Punktum!_ _Schlusz!_
=None=, =Nothing=, =I have no money=. Turn the flat palms forward, one
near each trouser pocket. (Pop.)
Fr. _il n’y a rien_; Ger. _nichts_.
=Noon.= See _Midday_.
=Notify.= See _Tell_.