tattoo

¹tat·too

noun \ta-ˈtü\

plural tattoos

Definition of TATTOO

1

: a rapid rhythmic rapping

2

a : a call sounded shortly before taps as notice to go to quarters

b : outdoor military exercise given by troops as evening entertainment

Origin of TATTOO

alteration of earlier taptoo, from Dutch taptoe, from the phrase tap toe! taps shut!

First Known Use: circa 1627

Other Music Terms

cacophony, chorister, concerto, counterpoint, madrigal, obbligato, presto, presto, refrain, riff, segue

Rhymes with TATTOO

accrue, achoo, adieu, ado, Agnew, aircrew, airscrew, anew, askew, babu, Baku, bamboo, battu, battue, bayou, bedew, beshrew, bestrew, bijou, boo-boo, boubou, brand-new, breakthrough, burgoo, cachou, can-do, canoe, caoutchouc, Carew, Cebu, Chonju, construe, Corfu, corkscrew, coypu, CQ, cuckoo, curfew, debut, Depew, doo-doo, ecu, endue, ensue, eschew, floor-through, fondue, fordo, Gansu, Gentoo, Gifu, goo-goo, GQ, ground crew, gumshoe, guru, hairdo, hereto, Hindu, home brew, Honshu, horseshoe, how-to, HQ, Hutu, igloo, imbrue, imbue, IQ, jackscrew, K2, Kansu, karoo, Karoo, kazoo, Khufu, kung fu, Kwangju, leadscrew, lean-to, long view, make-do, Matthew, me-too, mildew, milieu, miscue, misdo, muumuu, non-U, old-shoe, one-two, on view, outdo, perdu, Peru, poilu, prau, preview, pursue, purview, ragout, redo, renew, Renfrew, review, revue, rough-hew, run-through, sandshoe, Sardou, see-through, set-to, setscrew, shampoo, sinew, skiddoo, snafu, snowshoe, soft-shoe, span-new, subdue, surtout, taboo, Taegu, thank-you, thereto, thumbscrew, to-do, too-too, tree shrew, undo, undue, unglue, unscrew, untrue, vatu, vendue, venue, virtu, voodoo, wahoo, walk-through, wherethrough, whereto, who's who, worldview, yahoo, yoo-hoo

²tattoo

verb

Definition of TATTOO

transitive verb

: to beat or rap rhythmically on : drum on

intransitive verb

: to give a series of rhythmic taps

First Known Use of TATTOO

1780

Other Music Terms

cacophony, chorister, concerto, counterpoint, madrigal, obbligato, presto, presto, refrain, riff, segue

³tattoo

transitive verb

Definition of TATTOO

1

: to mark or color (the skin) with tattoos

2

: to mark the skin with (a tattoo) <tattooed a flag on his chest>

— tat·too·er noun

— tat·too·ist \-ˈtü-ist\ noun

Origin of TATTOO

Tahitian tatau, noun, tattoo

First Known Use: 1769

Other Fashion Terms

bodkin, chignon, cowlick, eau de toilette, imperial, pocket, pomander, tonsorial

⁴tattoo

noun

plural tattoos

Definition of TATTOO

1

: the act of tattooing : the fact of being tattooed

2

: an indelible mark or figure fixed upon the body by insertion of pigment under the skin or by production of scars

First Known Use of TATTOO

1777

Other Fashion Terms

bodkin, chignon, cowlick, eau de toilette, imperial, pocket, pomander, tonsorial

tattoo

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Permanent mark or design made on the body by pigment introduced through ruptures in the skin. The term is also loosely applied to the inducement of scars (cicatrization). Tattooing has been practiced in most parts of the world, and examples have been found on Egyptian and Nubian mummies dating from 2000 BC. Decoration is perhaps the most common motive, though designs may also serve to identify rank, status, or membership and are thought by some to provide magical protection against sickness or misfortune. The word comes from Tahiti, where it was recorded by James Cook's expedition in 1769. The first electric tattooing implement was patented in the U.S. in 1891.