Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Tattoo
Tat-too′
,Noun.
[Earlier
taptoo
, D. taptoe
; tap
a tap, faucet + toe
to, shut (i. e., the taps, or drinking houses, shut from the soldiers).] (Mil.)
A beat of drum, or sound of a trumpet or bugle, at night, giving notice to soldiers to retreat, or to repair to their quarters in garrison, or to their tents in camp.
The Devil’s tattoo
. See under
Devil
.Tat-too′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Tattooed
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Tattooing
.] [Of Polynesian origin; cf. New Zealand
ta
to tattoo, tatu
puncturation (in Otaheite).] To color, as the flesh, by pricking in coloring matter, so as to form marks or figures which can not be washed out.
Tat-too′
,Noun.
pl.
Tattoos
. An indelible mark or figure made by puncturing the skin and introducing some pigment into the punctures; – a mode of ornamentation practiced by various barbarous races, both in ancient and modern times, and also by some among civilized nations, especially by sailors.
Webster 1828 Edition
Tattoo
TATTOO'
,Noun.
TATTOO'
,Verb.
T.
TATTOO'
,Noun.
Definition 2024
Tattoo
tattoo
tattoo
See also: Tattoo
English
Noun
tattoo (plural tattoos)
- An image made in the skin with ink and a needle.
- A method of decorating the skin by inserting colored substances under the surface. The skin is punctured with a sharp instrument, which now is usually a solenoid-driven needle, that carries the inks to lower layers of the skin.
Translations
an image made in the skin with ink and a needle
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method of decorating the skin by inserting colored substances under the surface
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Verb
tattoo (third-person singular simple present tattoos, present participle tattooing, simple past and past participle tattooed)
- To apply a tattoo to (someone or something).
- (baseball) To hit the ball hard, as if to figuratively leave a tattoo on the ball.
- Jones tattoos one into the gap in left; that will clear the bases.
Translations
to apply a tattoo
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Derived terms
Etymology 1: Terms derived from the noun or verb tattoo
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Etymology 2
From earlier tap-to, a borrowing from Dutch taptoe, from tap (“tap; faucet on a cask”) + toe (“to; shut”). More at tap, to.
Noun
tattoo (plural tattoos)
- (nautical) A signal played five minutes before taps (lights out).
- A signal by drum or bugle ordering soldiers to return to their quarters.
- A military display or pageant.
Translations
time to close the taps
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signal
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military display or pageant
Etymology 3
From Hindi tattū.[script needed]
Noun
tattoo (plural tattoos)
- A breed of pony from India; a pony of that breed.