tattoo

¹

[ ta-too ]

noun

, plural tat·toos.

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 tat·toos.

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)

, tat·tooed, tat·too·ing.

1. to mark (the skin) with tattoos.
2. to put (tattoos) on the skin.

tattoo

¹

/ 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

tattoo

²

/ 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

Derived Forms

• tatˈtooer, noun

Other Words From

• tat·tooer tat·tooist noun
• untat·tooed 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

C18: from Tahitian tatau

Origin of tattoo²

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

Example Sentences

It was the first time anyone had felt passionately enough to turn her name into a tattoo - and the timing could not have been better.

From BBC

The legal dispute that led to this week’s ruling started last year, after the county Office of Inspector General demanded that dozens of deputies show their tattoos and name other suspected deputy gang members.

From Los Angeles Times

She said that many details in the heroine’s life – “her speaking tube, her scars, her tattoos, her hairdresser” – came directly from what she told Ms Dahdouh.

From BBC

With those roles, Murray catapulted into a star, a heartthrob with a capital H. He became a fixture of the tabloids and every teen girl’s crush, with his winning smile, bad-boy charm and tattoos.

From Los Angeles Times

When a robber bent down to grab stolen money, his hoodie rode up to reveal a star tattoo on his lower back — a marking that became a major focus during a trial this month.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• emblem
• symbol