What’s the proper name for that gesture with your thumb and a finger?

That is a question that many people ask when they are trying to remember what you call this movement. It is called “The Vulcan Salute.” The character Spock from Star Trek would often do it in greeting, or as part of an expression of emotion.

The Vulcan Salute is a hand gesture that was popularized by the Star Trek character Spock. The salute consists of an open palm facing outward with the fingers spread wide and pointing upwards, so as to resemble one of Earth’s major landmasses in outline when viewed from space (the continents are usually identified as North America, South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia).

It has been suggested that it might have been inspired by ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs which say “live long and prosper.” However, this assertion has never been confirmed.

when you bring any of your fingers in contact with your thumb; -this movement is called “The Vulcan Salute”; when someone does this they are referring to the Star Trek character Spock.

it might have been inspired by ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs which say “live long and prosper.”

however, this assertion has never been confirmed.

The Vulcan Salute is a hand gesture from the Star Trek television series, consisting of an open palm facing outward with fingers spread wide and pointing upwards so as to resemble one of Earth’s major landmasses when viewed from space (the continents are usually identified as North America, South America Africa, Europe or Asia). It was first popularized in 1968 when it was introduced on The Original Series episode “Amok Time”. It then became widespread when Leonard Nimoy reprised the gesture in Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979).

The Vulcan Salute is traditionally assumed to be a sign of peace and has been so interpreted onscreen. In most movies when it is used among Vulcans or humans there is no verbal exchange accompanying it; dialogue only occurs after the salute has already taken place.

however, this assertion never was confirmed.

In one instance — from “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock” — an individual performs a Vulcan salute by hand while wearing what appears to be traditional Romulan military attire, but does not speak any lines afterward before being dismissed with a simple nod by another character who then speaks aloud his intentions – making such a salute to being a clear, unambiguous act of aggression.

in the 2009 film “Star Trek”, when Spock is reinstated as an officer in Starfleet and appointed captain of the Enterprise he returns his first officer’s Vulcan salute with one hand rather than two (as was traditional), remarking that “[a]s you no doubt have surmised, I am not quite myself today.”

In this interpretation, by using only one hand instead of both while giving the gesture backhandedly Spock acknowledges that there are limits on how much control he has over himself now that his emotions are more present again after many years spent suppressing them.

Some examples from Star Wars films where it appears: Luke Skywalker encounters Yoda for the first time and has a conversation with him. As they talk, Luke’s thumb and index finger are touching in front of his chest when he is speaking to Yoda.

It appears again when Darth Vader confronts Obi-Wan on the Death Star II as Obi-Wan gives himself over for execution: “If you strike me down now…I shall become more powerful than you could possibly imagine”. This movement can also be seen used by Anakin Skywalker during one of the Clone Wars episodes before he becomes Darth Vader.

In anime, it typically occurs when the character is summoning large amounts of power or frustration such as Lelouch from Code Geass who often interacts this way while talking about how much better off everyone would be if Britannia had won WWII; Naruto when he is trying to summon a large amount of mystical energy in order to control the Kyuubi; or when Sasuke from Naruto is using his Sharingan.

In the manga it can be seen as one way for characters, including regular humans, ninja, and supernatural beings alike, to convey their emotions such as anger frustration fear, etc.

It’s also common among prophets in The Bible who were said to “stretch forth” their hand when they are invoking God’s power or delivering prophetic messages e.g., Moses & Aaron with Pharaoh at the Nile River after God told them all about Egypt being drowned by water.”