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View synonyms for

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

/ æˈٳː /

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

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

tattoo

2

/ æˈٳː /

verb

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

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a design made by this process

  2. the practice of tattooing

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • tattooer noun
  • tattooist noun
  • untattooed adjective
  • ٲˈٴǴDZ noun
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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
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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
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

This patient, who was found in Pasadena, has a tattoo of a small cross on his left forearm and small star tattoo on his left bicep.

From

He knew it wasn’t safe to walk all around the neighborhood with his tattoos.

From

Family members of some of those men, however, have disputed any gang ties, with some arguing that they were swept up as a result of innocent tattoos.

From

I tell them about the guy I once saw at Casey’s Tavern in Woodland Hills with a Where’s the Beef tattoo.

From

A lieutenant tattooed with that image previously testified that it is associated with the Gladiators deputy subgroup, of which Fernandez has denied being a member.

From

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