H@TipPalm-PalmDown-OpenB@CenterChesthigh-PalmUp Contact H@BasePalm H@TipPalm Contact H@BasePalm H@TipPalm Contact H@BasePalm

American Sign Language

Etymology

Imitative of spreading butter using a knife represented by the strong hand with the “H” handshape (a shape frequently used in ASL to represent a knife) onto bread represented by the weak hand with the “open B” handshape (a shape frequently used to represent a flat object).

Production

• This two-handed ASL sign is produced as follows:
  1. Posture the nondominant hand in the “open B” handshape in front of the center of the chest, nondominant palm facing up. Posture the dominant hand in the “H” handshape at the tip of the nondominant palm, dominant palm facing down.

     Hold the nondominant hand in this posture for the entire duration of the sign.

  2. Draw the fingers of the dominant hand over the nondominant palm toward its base.
  3. Posture the dominant hand in the “H” handshape at the base of the nondominant palm.
  4. Move the dominant hand to the starting posture and repeat at least once, typically twice.

     Hold the hands briefly in the final posture.

Noun

Upload png, jpg, or gif image. (ASL gloss: BUTTER)

1. butter
2. margarine