Indian signn.
/ˌɪndɪən ˈsʌɪn/, U.S. /ˌɪndiən ˈsaɪn/ 1. A track, trail, or other sign indicating the presence of American Indians. Also as a mass noun.
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society > communication > indication > marking > a mark > trace or vestige > [noun] > other traces or vestiges
staddle1691
Indian sign1805
geological record1811
powder mark1823
earmark1836
rock record1851
tool-mark1865
staddle-stead1868
staddle-mark1876
waterline1876
posthole1888
tooth-mark1889
pollen count1926
snake mark1929
parch mark1947
tranchet blow1949
posthole pattern1950
posthole evidence1962
1805 P. Gass Jrnl. 30 May (1807) 93 We see a great many fresh Indian tracks or signs as we pass along.
1844 G. W. Kendall Narr. Texan Santa Fé Exped. I. vii. 121 During the day we also noticed fresh Indian ‘sign’, consisting of recent trails; and other more subtle evidences.
1873 J. H. Beadle Undeveloped West xxxiv. 738 I rode around our camp, a circle of about six miles, looking for Indian signs.
a1918 G. Stuart 40 Years on Frontier (1925) I. 115 Plenty of Indian signs, saw signal fires on the mountains to westward.
2006 S. L. Moore Savage Frontier II. ix. 231 Indian signs were abundant, but it soon became clear that any Indians in the area were fleeing westward ahead of the Texans.
2. A means of communication used by or associated with American Indians, esp. a hand gesture.
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society > communication > indication > signalling > visual signalling > smoke signals > [noun]
smoke1697
smoke-signal1873
smoke rocket1891
Indian sign1906
smoke candle1932
smoke canister1973
1819 F. Kinloch Lett. from Geneva & France II. lxvii. 122 The Indian signs for rain, a cloud.., and for the adverb immediately, are the same with those of the Sourds-muets [i.e. deaf-mutes].
1881 Science 1 Oct. 470/2 The ascertained permanence of some Indian signs, and of those of foreign peoples and deaf mutes.
1906 ‘M. Twain’ Horse's Tale (1907) i. 4 I know some of the Indian signs—the signs they make with their hands, and by signal-fires at night and columns of smoke by day.
1945 Pacific Hist. Rev. 14 380 Hortense Warner Ward analyzes Spanish cattle brands and ear marks and finds in the former a carry-over of Indian signs.
2001 Irish Times (Nexis) 22 Sept. (Weekend) 62 The old woman started making small circular movements with her left hand over a clenched right fist... I realised that it was the Indian sign for coffee.
3. colloquial. Power or an advantage over someone; a curse, a jinx. Frequently in to put the Indian sign on and variants.Frequently in sporting contexts, although now often considered offensive in the United States.
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the world > the supernatural > the occult > sorcery, witchcraft, or magic > enchantment or casting spells > [noun] > spell > malignant enchantment or curse
curse1382
taking1541
ban1603
malignation1652
bad mouth1832
brujería1838
weird1874
Indian sign1901
hex1909
whammy1940
the world > the supernatural > the occult > sorcery, witchcraft, or magic > enchantment or casting spells > [verb (transitive)] > put an evil spell on
ill-wish1865
jinx1917
hex1932
to put the Indian sign on1948
1901 Chicago Tribune 28 Nov. 6/1 Oriente had the ‘Indian sign’ on the crowd against him in the third race and won in a romp.
1910 R. Grau Business Man in Amusement World 97 He has also been careful to protect himself against ‘the Indian Sign’.
1930 Olean (N.Y.) Evening Times 2 May ii. 8/1 Cissell said none of the pitchers had the ‘Indian Sign’ on him but ‘they're all plenty tough to hit’.
1948 V. Palmer Golconda x. 79 What silly notions about ourselves we can coddle! I believe the old boy's put the Indian sign on you, Neda.
1973 Listener 5 June 6/3 We were riding very high in terms of our legislative programme. We had the Indian sign on the Congress, so to speak.
2003 Sunday Herald (Glasgow) 9 Feb. (Sport section) 2/6 They still have the Indian sign over the Dons.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1805