cheironomia

CHEIRONOM´IA(χειρονομία). The movement of the hands was an important part of Greek and Roman dancing [SALTATIO], and had the name of χειρονομία. Herodotus, in the story of Hippoclides standing on his head before the guests of Clisthenes, uses the curious expression τοῖσι σκέλεσι ἐχειρόνομησε (6.129). It was also a feature of any pantomimic performance ( chironomon Ledam, Juven. 6.63). [PANTOMIMUS] The word is also used in the sense of σκιαμαχία, or sparring. (Plat. Legg. 8. p. 830 C; Paus. 6.10.3.) [PUGILATUS]

(χειρονομία). (1) The movement of the hands during dancing. (See saltatio.)

(2) The gesticulation employed in pantomime. (See pantomimus.)

(3) Sparring, for which the regular word is σκιαμαχία. See pugilatus.