tattoo

1 of 4

noun (1)

tat·​too ta-ˈtü How to pronounce tattoo (audio)
plural tattoos
1
: a mark, figure, design, or word intentionally fixed or placed on the skin:
a
: one that is indelible and created by insertion of pigment under the skin
b
: one that is temporarily applied to the skin, resembles a permanent tattoo, and usually lasts for a few days to several weeks
c
: one that is composed of scar tissue intentionally created by cutting, abrading, or burning the skin
2
: the act of tattooing : the fact of being tattooed

tattoo

2 of 4

verb (1)

tattooed; tattooing; tattoos

transitive verb

1
: to mark the skin with (a tattoo)
tattooed a flag on his chest
2
: to mark or color (the skin) with tattoos
tattooer noun
tattooist noun

tattoo

3 of 4

noun (2)

plural tattoos
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

tattoo

4 of 4

verb (2)

tattooed; tattooing; tattoos

transitive verb

1
: to beat or rap rhythmically on : drum on
2
baseball, informal
a
: to hit (a pitched ball) very hard
An RBI single followed, and then Rougned Odor tattooed the first pitch he saw for a three-run homer.Derrick Goold
b
: to get many hits and runs against (a pitcher)
The Twins tattooed him for four more in the third …Brian Murphy

intransitive verb

: to give a series of rhythmic taps

Did you know?

The less common noun tattoo comes from the Dutch colloquialism "tap toe," which can be translated as "turn off the tap," though it was most often used to mean something like "Shut up! Cease!" The Dutch began using the word taptoe for a drum beat, and then English speakers borrowed the term (changing it slightly, to taptoo and, eventually, to tattoo). It was used especially by the military to name a drum beat (or possibly a bugle call) that signaled the day's end. This taptoo most likely led to our taps, a term for the final bugle call at night in the military.

Examples of tattoo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
As part of raising awareness, the foundation sends free boxes of materials to several colleges, which include helmet stickers, wristbands, hair ties, temporary tattoos, lapel pins, cheer bows, and patches. Brook Choulet, Forbes, 21 Sep. 2024 That evening, her mom debuted yet another tattoo, revealing a small golden bird on her chest. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 21 Sep. 2024
Verb
While the Softies didn’t create Frog Baby—on tour, in 1994, someone from Washington indie-pop band Crayon playfully mashed together two figurines from the Softies’ dashboard—both singer-guitarists immediately loved it, so much so that Sbragia tattooed the creature on her bicep years later. Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 9 Sep. 2024 There are records of Christians tattooing themselves with signs of their faith, including the image of a fish, one of the first Christian symbols. Gustavo Morello, The Conversation, 10 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for tattoo 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tattoo.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Tahitian tatau, noun, tattoo

Noun (2)

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

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1777, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb (1)

1769, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun (2)

circa 1627, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1780, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of tattoo was circa 1627

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Dictionary Entries Near tattoo

Cite this Entry

“Tattoo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tattoo. Accessed 4 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

tattoo

1 of 3 noun
tat·​too ta-ˈtü How to pronounce tattoo (audio)
1
: a call sounded shortly before taps as notice to go to quarters
2
: a rapid rhythmic rapping

tattoo

2 of 3 verb
: to mark or color the skin with a tattoo

tattoo

3 of 3 noun
: a mark or figure fixed upon the body by using a needle to put color under the skin
Etymology

Noun

from earlier taptoo "a call to go to quarters for the night," from Dutch taptoe (same meaning), from the phrase tap toe! "taps shut!," used as a signal that the taps, or faucets, on the wine casks in a barroom were closed for the night

Verb

from a word in the Polynesian language of Tahiti tatau (noun) "the act of marking or coloring the skin"

Medical Definition

tattoo

1 of 2 transitive verb
tat·​too ta-ˈtü How to pronounce tattoo (audio)
: to mark or color (the skin) with tattoos

tattoo

2 of 2 noun
plural tattoos
: an indelible mark or figure fixed upon the body by insertion of pigment under the skin or by production of scars

More from Merriam-Webster on tattoo

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