tattoo

¹

[ta-too]

noun

plural

tattoos 

1. a signal on a drum, bugle, or trumpet at night, for soldiers or sailors to go to their quarters.

2. a knocking or strong pulsation.

   My heart beat a tattoo on my ribs.

3. British.,  an outdoor military pageant or display.

tattoo

²

[ta-too]

noun

plural

tattoos 

1. the act or practice of marking the skin with indelible patterns, pictures, legends, etc., by making punctures in it and inserting pigments.

2. a pattern, picture, legend, etc., so made.

verb (used with object)

tattooed, tattooing 

1. to mark (the skin) with tattoos.

2. to put (tattoos) on the skin.

tattoo

¹

/ tæˈtuː /

noun

1. (formerly) a signal by drum or bugle ordering the military to return to their quarters

2. a military display or pageant, usually at night

3. any similar beating on a drum, etc

tattoo

²

/ tæˈtuː /

verb

1. to make (pictures or designs) on (the skin) by pricking and staining with indelible colours

noun

1. a design made by this process

2. the practice of tattooing

Other Word Forms

• tattooer noun
• tattooist noun
• untattooed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tattoo¹

First recorded in 1570–80; earlier taptoo, from Dutch taptoe, literally, “shut tap,” from tap “spigot, tap” + toe “closed, shut”; cognate with tap ² ( def. ), to ( def. )

Origin of tattoo²

First recorded in 1760–70; from Marquesan tatu; replacing tattow, from Tahitian tatau

Word History and Origins

Origin of tattoo¹

C17: from Dutch taptoe, from the command tap toe! turn off the taps! from tap tap of a barrel + toe to shut

Origin of tattoo²

C18: from Tahitian tatau

Example Sentences

Stories are inscribed in the tattoos that cover the islanders’ bodies.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Her form is far better than any of the tattooed 20 somethings around her.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Though not a work requirement, Laqua said, “two-thirds of our early employees got Corgi tattoos.”

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Other restricted procedures include liposuction, breast reduction, removal of breast implants, carpal tunnel and tattoo removal.

Read more on BBC

Last night, Lauper got a new tattoo of a seahorse on her arm.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• emblem 
• symbol