Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
Definition: Tattoo |
TattooNoun1. A drumbeat of bugle call that signals the military to return to their quarters. 2. A design on the skin made by tattooing. 3. The practice of making a design on the skin by pricking and staining. Verb1. Stain (skin) with indelible color. Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
Date "tattoo" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1781. (references) |
| Domain | Definition |
Dream Interpretation | To see your body appearing tattooed, foretells that some difficulty will cause you to make a long and tedious absence from your home. To see tattooes on others, foretells that strange loves will make you an object of jealousy. To dream you are a tattooist, is a sign that you will estrange yourself from friends because of your fancy for some strange experience. Source: Ten Thousand Dreams Interpreted .... |
Slang in 1811 | TATTOO. A beat of the drum, of signal for soldiers to go to their quarters, and a direction to the sutlers to close the tap, anddtew nomore liquor for them; it is generally beat at nine in summer and eight in winter. The devil's tattoo; beating with one's. Source: 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
A tattoo is a kind of body modification.
The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian tatu, which means, "to mark." The first recorded history of tattooing is found in Egypt during the time of the building of the great pyramids. Mummies as old as seven thousand years have been found with tattoos.
Tattoo of a black leopard.
Larger version
Tattoo of an eagle.
Larger version
Detail of eagle tattoo.
A tattoo in the most common sense is a picture, figure or text drawn in ink (or other pigment) under the topmost layer of skin on an animal or human. In modern times the ink is introduced under the skin by a group of needles soldered to a needle bar then attached to an electric tattoo machine, although some tribal cultures create them by cutting and then rubbing the wound with ink, ashes or other agents or by "tapping" the ink into the skin using animal bone.
The purposes of tattoos are diverse. Identification, cosmetic, religious and magicalal uses are the most common. The most horrid use ever made of tattoos is probably the ka-tzetnik identification system for Jews in concentration camps during the Holocaust.
Tattooing is technically referred to as "micro-pigment implantation". Devices for implanting pigment are called "machines," which operate on an electro- magnetic principle (much like an old-fashioned door bell) and are manufactured by many small to mid-sized companies throughout the world. Typical tattoo machines cost around $200 USD, though certain collectible machines can run into the thousands.
Permanent Cosmetics
Permanent cosmetics are tattoos that mimic eyebrows, lip liner, lipstick, eye shadow, mascara, and even well-placed moles.
Tattoos are used with animals such as pets (ID marks, covering patches on noses to prevent sunburn) and farm livestock (ID marks). Veterinarians are always present during such procedures and the animal is typically sedated to ensure its safety.
Henna / Temporary Tattoos
Temporary tattoos made with 'black henna' may cause allergic reactions. 'Black henna' is fabricated by adding PPD (p-Phenylenediamine) to natural henna, in order to achieve a black color rather than the orange through brown stain of natural henna. PPD is very unhealthy and has been known to cause burns[1].
Tattoo Health and Regulation
The tattoo industry has in the last twenty years become very conscious of the health problems associated with tattoing, particularly in the transmission of viruses by blood contact. This may occur if needles or tubes are reused without sterilizing.
In the United States of America tattooing is widely regulated by the individual states and municipalities. A good place to find regulations are state, Department of Health web sites and are typically controlled by Environmental Health or Consumer Protection divisions.
Pigment Allergies and Health Risks
Allergic reactions to tattoo pigments are rare but not unheard of. People who are sensitive or allergic to certain metals may react to pigments in the skin, causing damage to the epidermis.
People with allergies should consider carefully getting a tattoo because of the risk of anaphylaxis (hypersensitive reaction) and the shock that might occur, which can be life threatening. Tattoo artists can often give small tests, by marking a small amount of ink behind the ear to determine if that person has an allergic reaction.
Infection from tattooing in clean and modern tattoo studios is rare but can happen. Common infections include surface infections of the skin all the way to staph infections that can cause cardiological damage. People who are susceptible to infection should know the dangers of the abasing of the skin can have and would be advised to consult their regular physician before getting a tattoo.
AIDS and Hepatitis C are rare in clean, modern tattooing.
Common sense in choosing a tattoo establishment is key to getting a clean, well executed, and professional tattoo. Visit several studios before choosing one. Look for things like latex gloves, red bio-hazard trash cans, and sharps containers for old needles. Also ask to see the autoclave and make sure the tattoo artist always opens a needle package in front of you. Use your head and you won't be in any real danger. (Think before you ink!)
See also: scar tattoo, military music tattoo (such as the Edinburgh Millitary Tattoo), body modification
References
- The Total Tatoo Book Amy Krakow, ISBN 0446670014
- Tattoo Art Magazine
External link
- How Tattoos Work from HowStuffWorks.com (Warning: Numerous popups)
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Tattoo."
| Context | Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus). |
Command | Dictation; dictate, mandate; caveat, decree, senatus consultum; precept; prescript, rescript; writ, ordination, bull, ex cathedra pronouncement, edict, decretal, dispensation, prescription, brevet, placit, ukase, ukaz, firman, hatti-sherif, warrant, passport, mittimus, mandamus, summons, subpoena, nisi prius, interpellation, citation; word, word of command; mot d'ordre; bugle call, trumpet call; beat of drum, tattoo; order of the day; enactment; (law); plebiscite; (choice). |
| Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus. | |
Crosswords: Tattoo |
| English words defined with "tattoo": Tattooed, Tattooing, Tattoos. (references) |
| Specialty definitions using "tattoo": TATTOO ARTIST, tattooer, tattooist. (references) |
| Non-English Usage: "Tattoo" is also a word in the following language with English translations in parentheses. Manx (tattoo, tattoo on skin). |
| Domain | Usage | |
Screenplays | Oh, that'll be my little girl wanting a tattoo. (Volcano; writing credit: Jerome Armstrong) There are three rules that I live by: never get less than twelve hours sleep; never play cards with a guy who has the same first name as a city; and never get involved with a woman with a tattoo of a dagger on her body (Teen Wolf; writing credit: Joseph Loeb III; Matthew Weisman) A tattoo isn't something you put on or take off just like sunglasses (Tattoo; writing credit: Joyce Buñuel) His tattoo. I thought his Chinese symbols were on the other arm (Static Shock; writing credit: Maksim Stishov) That should give you enough time to shave her head and tattoo a number on her arm. (Hill Street Blues; writing credit: Steve Bello; David Black) | |
Lyrics | Signed, with a home tattoo, Happy birthday to you was created for you. (Come Undone; performing artist: Duran Duran) Nothin' to show but this brand new tattoo (Margaritaville; performing artist: JIMMY BUFFET) With nothing to show but this brand new tattoo, ("Margaritaville"; performing artist: Jimmy Buffett) Now he's getting a tattoo (Pretty Fly; performing artist: The Offspring) | |
Movie/TV Titles | Tattoo (2001) The Rose Tattoo (1955) Trade Tattoo (1937) Ko-Ko's Tattoo (1928) The Tattoo Mark (1913) | |
Song Titles | Bad Tattoo (performing artist: The Ringling Sisters) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | ||
| Domain | Title | ||
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Periodicals |
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Theater & Movies | |||
Music |
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Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Thumbnail | Description & Credit | Thumbnail | Description & Credit |
 | A hammock-bound Sailor's reflections on Navy lower deck life, with second thoughts as re-enlistment time nears. Taken in a 5"/51 gun casemate on board USS Nevada (BB-36) by A.E. Wells, the ship's photographer, during the early 1920s. Note ready-service shells on the casemate bulkhead, gun at left, shoes tied to hammock lashings and tattoo on the man's left leg. Credit: NAVY. |  | Scene in the crew's mess, circa Autumn 1941. Note crewmen's attire, tattoo on the man seated second from left, soup bowls, galvanized pitcher and details of mess tables. Credit: NAVY. |
 | Enright and Tattoo finishing, Put-in-Bay. Credit: Library of Congress. |  | Signs and trailer with tattoo artist on highway near Fort Beauregard. Alexandria, Louisiana. Credit: Library of Congress. |
 | Young woman in nun's habit with tattoo of Che Guevara on her chest. Credit: Library of Congress. | ||
Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits. | |||
 |  |
| "Tattoo" by Christie Ortiz Commentary: "This is the arm of one of the airbrushed girls in my office. It says "Sweden Forever" on the tat, as the name of one of our stores is Sweden Bookstore..." | "Graffiti mural" by Loretta Humble Commentary: "This was painted as art on the side of a local tattoo parlor. (This little town hadn't had one before.) When they moved, the building owner painted it out, even though Malakoff prides itself on how many murals it has for its size. ." |
Source: photographs selected by the editor, with permission from the photographers. | |
| Author | Quotation |
Steven Wright | I'm going to get a tattoo over my whole body of me, but taller. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | |
| Subject | Topic | Quote |
Health | Getting a tattoo or body piercing with unsterilized, dirty tools. (references) | |
If you get a tattoo or body piercing, make sure it is done with clean tools. (references) | ||
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits. | ||
| "Tattoo" is generally used as a noun (singular) -- approximately 98.16% of the time. "Tattoo" is used about 163 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Noun (singular) | 98.16% | 160 | 24,760 |
| Noun (proper) | 1.23% | 2 | 245,945 |
| Noun (common) | 0.61% | 1 | 339,140 |
| Total | 100.00% | 163 | N/A |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
Expressions using "tattoo": beat a tattoo ♦ beat the devil's tattoo ♦ The Devil's tattoo. Additional references. | |
| Hyphenated Usage | |
Beginning with "tattoo": tattoo-wearin'. | |
Ending with "tattoo": electro-tattoo, palm-tattoo, spider-tattoo. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Expression | Frequency per Day | Expression | Frequency per Day |
tattoo | 117,246 | lower back tattoo | 1,346 |
tattoo design | 16,985 | tribal tattoo design | 1,331 |
tattoo picture | 13,698 | tattoo nude | 1,236 |
tribal tattoo | 10,963 | star tattoo | 1,185 |
tattoo gallery | 6,028 | tattoo machine | 1,173 |
tattoo flash | 4,965 | tattoo removal | 1,110 |
temporary tattoo | 3,929 | design free tattoo | 1,056 |
dragon tattoo | 3,687 | book of tattoo | 1,049 |
butterfly tattoo | 3,531 | flower tattoo | 1,041 |
tattoo art | 3,270 | fake tattoo | 1,026 |
celtic tattoo | 2,787 | boston convention tattoo | 955 |
henna tattoo | 2,773 | tattoo idea | 929 |
free tattoo flash | 2,498 | tattoo photo | 903 |
tattoo supply | 2,478 | lyrics tattoo | 852 |
fairy tattoo | 2,201 | dolphin tattoo | 852 |
cross tattoo | 2,091 | japanese tattoo | 823 |
angel tattoo | 1,651 | tattoo girl | 821 |
chinese tattoo | 1,423 | chinese symbol for tattoo | 771 |
sun tattoo | 1,415 | zodiac tattoo | 730 |
celebrity tattoo | 1,379 | tattoo for woman | 672 |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Language | Translations for "tattoo"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | |
Albanian | trokas me gishtërinj, trokëllimë (clatter, pitter patter), tatuazh, sinjal i gjumit, bëj tatuazh. (various references) | |
Arabic | قرع الطبل (roll, taps), وشم, تطبيل, عرض عسكري (march past, parade, review). (various references) | |
Bulgarian | свиря вечерна заря, сигнал за вечерна заря с тръба, тропане (clack, pitter patter, rat-a-tat, rattle), тропам ритмично с ръка или крак, татуировка, татуирам, барабаня с пръсти, барабанене с пръсти. (various references) | |
Chinese | 纹身花刺 (Tattoos). (various references) | |
Czech | tetovat, tetování, bubnovat prsty (drum one's fingers), èepobití. (various references) | |
Dutch | taptoe. (various references) | |
Esperanto | militista vesperkoncerto. (various references) | |
Farsi | خال کوبیدن , خال سوزنی . (various references) | |
Finnish | tatuointi (tattooing), tatuoida. (various references) | |
French | tatouage (tattooing). (various references) | |
German | zapfenstreich (last post, taps), tätowieren. (various references) | |
Greek | κεντώ εικόνασ επί του δέρματοσ, συνεχέσ χτύπημα, βάφω εικόνασ επί του δέρματοσ, λαμπαδηφορία, τατουάζ, δερματοστηξία. (various references) | |
Hebrew | מפגן (demonstration, parade, rally, review, show, spectacle), לתופף (drum), תפוף (drumbeat, drumming), תרועה (alarm, blare, blast, cheer, cry, shout, trumpet call), כתובת קעקע. (various references) | |
Hungarian | tetoválás, takarodó (curfew, last post, recall, retreat, sack time, taps). (various references) | |
Indonesian | tato, rajahan, rajah (lines in the palm), merajah (lines in the palm). (various references) | |
Italian | tatuare, tatuaggio (tattooing). (various references) | |
Japanese Kanji | 黥 , 文身 , 倶梨伽羅紋紋 , 剳青 , 入墨 , 入れ墨 , 刺青 . (various references) | |
Japanese Katakana | しせい (administration, attitude, city conditions, devotion, female, four tones, government, great poet, life and death, municipal census, municipal government, municipal organization, municipality, one's nature or disposition, posture, private, sincerity, statesmanship, the four castes, the four great sages, the street, the town), くりからもんもん, ぶんしん (branch, delivery, dividing and advancing, offshoot, one's child, one's other self, parturition), いれずみ. (various references) | |
Korean | 귀영나팔 (Tattoos). (various references) | |
Manx | tattoo (tattoo on skin), taishbynys oie, dollan ny hoie. (various references) | |
Pig Latin | attootay.(various references) | |
Portuguese | tamborilar (bicker, drum, patter, thrum). (various references) | |
Romanian | tatuaj, tatua. (various references) | |
Russian | сигнал вечерней зари, татуировка (tatoo), отбивать такт (beat time, time), бить зорю. (various references) | |
Serbo-Croatian | tetovirati, tetoviranje, povečerje (taps). (various references) | |
Spanish | tatuaje (tattooing). (various references) | |
Swedish | tatuering (tattooing), tatuera, tapto (post, tap). (various references) | |
Thai | แตรเดี่ยว (bugle), สัญญาณเรียกทหารกลับค่าย, สักลายบนผิวหนัง, การแสดงกลางแจ้งของทหาร, รอยสัก. (various references) | |
Turkish | trampet çalma, trampet (snare drum), parmaklarıyla tıkırdatma, koğuş borusu, dövme yapmak, dövme (basting, battering, beaten, beating, dressing down, forged, hammered, hammering, hiding, pound, pounding, swaging, tanning, wrought), askeri geçit. (various references) | |
Ukrainian | індійський поні, сигнал вечірньої зорі, час вечірньої зорі, грати вечірню зорю, барабанний дріб (ruff), барабанити (drum, pelt, ruff). (various references) | |
Vietnamese | hình xăm trên da sự xăm mình. (various references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references. | ||
Derivations | |
Words beginning with "tattoo": tattooed, tattooer, tattooers, tattooing, tattooist, tattooists, tattoos. (additional references) | |
| |
"Tattoo" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: atoo, gatto, tactoo, tanto, tantu, tato, tatoe, tatoo, tatos, tattie, tatto, tattoe, tattos, tattow, Tatu, Tetovo, Titio, Titiyo, Titolo, titou, Titovo, Tityo, totto, Trattato, ttttaa, Tutko, tutto, Vattimo. (additional references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |
Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams | |
| Words within the letters "a-o-o-t-t-t" | |
-2 letters: otto, toot. | |
-3 letters: att, oat, oot, tao, tat, too, tot. | |
-4 letters: at, ta, to. | |
| Words containing the letters "a-o-o-t-t-t" | |
+1 letter: tattoos. | |
+2 letters: tattooed, tattooer. | |
+3 letters: photostat, tattooers, tattooing, tattooist. | |
+4 letters: autorotate, cottontail, outstation, photostats, tattooists, toothpaste. | |
+5 letters: antiboycott, autorotated, autorotates, cottontails, orthostatic, ostentation, outstations, photostated, photostatic, phototactic, potentiator, toothpastes, totalisator, totalizator. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. | |
| 1. Definition 2. Crosswords 3. Usage: Modern 4. Usage: Commercial | 5. Images: Slideshow 6. Images: Photo Album 7. Images: Digital Art 8. Quotations: Familiar | 9. Quotations: Non-fiction 10. Usage Frequency 11. Expressions 12. Expressions: Internet | 13. Translations: Modern 14. Derivations 15. Anagrams 16. Bibliography |
Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
