FRIEND in sign language

ASL signs for FRIEND

How do you say 'friend' in American Sign Language?

Definition: A person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal bond.

Pronunciation (sign description): Dominant palm-down bent forefinger interlocked with non-dominant palm-up bent-forefinger switch the orientation of both index fingers.

"close friend" in ASL

Meaning: close friend; very close friend.

For "best friend", sign BEST+CLOSE-FRIEND (video available soon).

Related words

Lehroy and his BUDDY have known each other since childhood, and been COMPANIONS ever since. They were PLAYMATES on the playground where they used to play hide and seek and now they play hooky. They are still close friends, but not best friends. His best friend is the one with all the money. He doesn't know how to tell his old childhood CHUM that they are not his top PAL anymore. So he lets "moneybags" do it. Because, that's what friends are for, he said.

More vocabulary: COMRADE, PARTNER, ALLY, MATE, SOULMATE.

What is the primary factor for friendship and marriage with a Deaf person?