tattoo

¹ American  

[ta-too] / tæˈtu /

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.

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tattoo ² American  

[ta-too] / tæˈtu /

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.

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verb (used with object)

tattooed, tattooing

1. to mark (the skin) with tattoos.

2. to put (tattoos) on the skin.

tattoo ¹ British  

/ 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

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tattoo ² British  

/ tæˈtuː /

verb

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

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noun

1. a design made by this process

2. the practice of tattooing

Other Word Forms

• tattooer noun
• tattooist noun
• untattooed adjective

Etymology

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

Example Sentences

Pictured in images carved on the statues and tattooed on the backs of old men, the bird cult “was the last of the old order to pass away.”

From The Wall Street Journal

They are described as “rugged” or “tough;” they sport beards and tattoos.

From The Wall Street Journal

On his forearm, Dominik Szoboszlai has a tattoo in Hungarian which reads 'Talent is a divine blessing, but without incredible will and humility, it is worth nothing'.

From BBC

On Dec. 24, Tovar posted a missing person flier that showed photos of her daughter along with a physical description that included a tattoo on the back of her left hand.

From Los Angeles Times

She also shares matching tattoos with her two brothers.

From BBC

Related Words

• emblem
• symbol