How to sign “Motor” in ASL
The BSL sign for “Motor” isn't in our dictionary yet — it will be fingerspelled in BSL mode, never replaced with this ASL sign.
Step by step
- Curl the fingers of both hands at the middle knuckles into loose claw handshapes.
- Hold your hands out in front of your chest with the fingertips nearly touching.
- Interlock the clawed fingers of the two hands like gears meshing together in a machine.
- Raise and lower the locked hands twice together, mimicking moving gears.
- Keep the backs of your hands angled toward the sides through the motion.
- Keep your expression neutral; a slight lean forward adds mechanical emphasis.
Practice tip
The same sign covers motor, engine, and machine — context picks the meaning.
Fingerspell “Motor”
Letter by letter — a handy backup if you forget the sign above. This is not the sign itself.
Text-based guide researched from established ASL references (Lifeprint, university and public-health materials) and rewritten in original words. Signer-created photos and videos are a planned future upgrade.