'Dactylology' definitions:

Definition of 'Dactylology'

From: GCIDE
  • Dactylology \Dac`tyl*ol"o*gy\, n. [Gr. da`ktylos finger + -logy.] The art of communicating ideas by certain movements and positions of the fingers; a form of sign language, especially the manual alphabets used by the deaf and dumb. [1913 Webster +PJC]
  • Note: There are two different manual alphabets, the one-hand alphabet (which was perfected by Abb['e] de l'Ep['e]e, who died in 1789), and the two-hand alphabet. The latter was probably based on the manual alphabet published by George Dalgarus of Aberdeen, in 1680. See Illustration in Appendix. [1913 Webster]