Gesticulate comes from Latin gesticulat- ‘gesticulated’, from the verb "gesticulari" (to gesture, mimic) and "gesticulus" (a mimicking gesture).  It describes animated movements people make in conversation — with and without words. 

The verb "gesticulate" was first recorded in English around 1600, while the noun "gesticulation" was first recorded around the early 17th century.  OED's earliest evidence for gesticulate is from 1609, in the writing of Robert Cawdrey, Church of England clergyman and lexicographer.

Examples of gesticulate in a sentence: 
"He gesticulated with his shoulders and barely moved his arms."  
"Everything he says is peppered with sudden howls of laughter and much gesticulating."
"Every time a player came near him he was yelling and pointing and gesticulating."
"She was shouting and gesticulating quite wildly."
"There was a man outside the window gesticulating wildly." 
"He gesticulated with his shoulders and barely moved his arms." 
 

From casual observations, I've discovered that some people seem to gesticulate more than others.  In fact, I believe there are certain people that wouldn't be able to talk if they sat on their hands, because they need to gesticulate in order to make a point.  

19 minutes ago, Bill W said:

From casual observations, I've discovered that some people seem to gesticulate more than others.  In fact, I believe there are certain people that wouldn't be able to talk if they sat on their hands, because they need to gesticulate in order to make a point.  

And there are some studies that support this observation @Bill W. Greeks and Italians gesticulate while talking more than other European nationalities. That said, it seems appropriate that gesticulate has it's origin in Latin. All those Romans gesticulating in the Forum.          

1 hour ago, Paladin said:

And there are some studies that support this observation @Bill W. Greeks and Italians gesticulate while talking more than other European nationalities. That said, it seems appropriate that gesticulate has it's origin in Latin. All those Romans gesticulating in the Forum.          

I was trying to be diplomatic and not mention any particular nationality, but having been related to through marriage to different Italian families, I can vouch that I accidentally got backhanded a few times when I got too close to someone when they were talking.  My suggestion would be to give any Italian you know plenty of personal space if you don't want to accidentally get clobbered, because their gesticulations come with considerable force.  😜  

18 minutes ago, Bill W said:

I was trying to be diplomatic and not mention any particular nationality, but having been related to through marriage to different Italian families, I can vouch that I accidentally got backhanded a few times when I got too close to someone when they were talking.  My suggestion would be to give any Italian you know plenty of personal space if you don't want to accidentally get clobbered, because their gesticulations come with considerable force.  😜  

@Bill W, I didn't feel a need to be diplomatic. While I'm Australian, my family name is of North Italian origin.

38 minutes ago, drpaladin said:

Gesticulation is co-speech and is an Instintive form of communication. Babies make gestures before they learn to speak and studies have shown the blind will make gestures when communicating with other blind people.

All of us gestuculate to some degree even if we don't realize it.

That's true, but there are also those whose gesticulation is so animated and dramatic that it can actually be dangerous or just comical.