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

“It feels really good being a Black woman in this space — a Black, tattooed woman,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

The software enables law enforcement and government analysts to connect vast, disparate datasets, build intelligence profiles and search for individuals based on characteristics as granular as a tattoo or an immigration status.

From Salon

Its popularity has in part been driven by its TikTok appeal, with fans posting videos of themselves ordering in its minty fresh decorated cafes or at free tattoo pop up events.

From BBC

The sequel focuses on Dolphin, 33, still looking after her mum and feeling dejected with life living in a bedsit and working at a tattoo parlour.

From BBC

The business was closed for 10 months as she said it was difficult to abide by government guidelines of maintaining a 2m distance from people while trying to tattoo them.

From BBC

Related Words

• emblem 
• symbol