EAGLE (meaning: wings, and black tips of tail feathers). Make sign for BIRD; then hold horizontally the extended left flat hand, back up, in front of left breast, fingers pointing to front and right; then lay the lower edge of vertical extended right hand, back to right and outwards, fingers pointing to left and front, on back of left, on knuckles; move the right hand outwards and to right; then make sign for BLACK, representing the black end of the tail feathers. Occasionally the sign for TAIL is made.
EARLY. If early in the morning make signs for DAYBREAK, and LITTLE; if early in the evening, make signs for SUNSET, and LITTLE.
EARRING (meaning: long, narrow pendant). Point extended index fingers downward, other fingers and thumbs closed, alongside of ears, backs of hands towards head; shake hands a trifle, giving a trembling motion to index fingers.
EARTH. Point with right index to the ground, then reach down and rub thumb and tips of fingers together.
EAT. With nearly compressed right hand, pass tips of fingers in curve downward past mouth two or three times by wrist action.
Add location of sun in the sky to indicate breakfast, dinner or supper. (Modern).
EATEN ENOUGH (meaning: filled to the throat). Make the sign for EAT; then spread index and thumb of right hand close to breast; move the hand upwards to height of chin.
EFFORT. Make the sign for PUSH.
ELK (meaning: horns). With fingers extended and pointing upwards, place hands above head; move them to front and rear two or three times.
ELOPE. The Indian method of eloping is to STEAL the woman; so the proper signs are accordingly made, i.e., STEAL and WOMAN.
END (meaning: cut off). Hold left flat hand out in front of left breast, thumb upward; then with right flat hand strike down past finger tips of left hand.
ENEMY. Make the signs FRIEND and NO. Have seen Indians make the signs SHAKE HANDS and NO, though first sign is more general.
ENLIST. Make the signs for WORK and SOLDIER.
ENTER (meaning: to enter a TEEPEE, or stooping position in entering a lodge). Make sign for HOUSE; then hold compressed left hand well in front of body; bring partly compressed right hand downwards and outwards, under left.
EQUAL (meaning: even race). Hold 1 hands in front of breast, indexes two inches apart; move them both to front, keeping tips opposite, indicating an even race.
ESCAPE. With hands closed, cross the wrists; then separate hands quickly by swinging them to right and left and slightly upwards; then make the sign for GO.
ETERNALLY. Make the sign for FOREVER.
EVENING. With extended right hand, make the sign of SUN sinking in the west; then signs NIGHT, and LITTLE.
EXCHANGE or TRADE. Hold up 1 hands; then in semi-circle strike them past each other.
EXPLAIN. Hold extended right hand, back down, in front of, close to, and little lower than mouth, fingers pointing to left; by wrist action move hand outwards a few inches. To be spoken to or explained to, reverse the action, moving hand towards face.
EXTERMINATE (meaning: wiped out). Hold left flat hand in front of body; then wipe flat right hand across same.
F
FACE. Bring right flat hand down across front of face.
FAINT. Make the sign for DIE and for RECOVER.
FALL (Season). Make sign for AUTUMN.
FALL (of water). Make sign for RIVER; then hold flat hand, back out, in front of body; bring right hand, fingers slightly apart, over top of left hand and down with wavy motion.
FALL (to). Right flat hand in front of body, pointing to left, back up; swing hand in a curve, upwards and outwards, to right, then downwards while turning hand palm up.
FAME. The highest compliment you can pay an Indian is to say that he is a CHIEF, BRAVE; therefore make these signs to express fame.,
FAR. Make the sign for DISTANT.
FARM. Make the sign for CORN and for WORK.
