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
With lines for Lomax’s tattoos going out the door, Montgomery’s wife suggested the two open their own tattoo business together. Jenny Rudolph, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Mar. 2024 However, her parents caught on to her first visible tattoo right away. Jenna Wang, Peoplemag, 20 Mar. 2024 Boise Police Department Meade, who has a series of distinctive tattoos on his face and body, is approximately 5 feet 6 inches and weighs 150 lbs, officials said. S. Dev, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2024 Everything else — the piercings, the tattoos — was all there. Stefano Montali, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2024 Later, Kimmel asked if the inmates would recommend that Trump get some tattoos before heading behind bars. Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2024 Crimes, courts and policing Ex-undersheriff admits to having alleged deputy gang tattoo — then getting rid of it. Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2024 For the piercing and tattoo shop, that changeover started last September with checking the building's insulation and air sealing to determine what size heat pumps were needed. Jeff Brady, NPR, 4 Mar. 2024 Some 38% of women have at least one tattoo while 27% of men have one; 39% of Black Americans have tattoos, while 35% of Hispanic adults and 14% of Asian Americans have tats. Byamanda Gerut, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2024
Verb
Bratcher, who rents a room from Gordon, started tattooing shortly after the start of the COVID pandemic. Jenny Rudolph, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Mar. 2024 Seminars focus on the intersection of tattooing with artificial intelligence, religion and advice for growing business owners. Detroit Free Press, 3 Mar. 2024 Each design could be tattooed for $150, and two fans could also win free tattoos from the collection. Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 17 Feb. 2024 Navels are tattooed with a black box representing the separation of a baby boy from his mother at birth. Brian T. Allen, National Review, 10 Feb. 2024 Bowley, president of youth sports nonprofit Costa Mesa United, was celebrated as a champion of young sports in the area and was idolized by Knapp, who tattooed his initials – G.S.F.B. – on his left arm to honor him last summer. Jack Bantock, CNN, 26 Feb. 2024 In a previous episode of RHOBH, Kyle permanently commemorated their relationship by tattooing her first initial onto Morgan. Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 11 Jan. 2024 In this season of RHOBH, Bravo fans even saw Kyle tattooing her initial onto Morgan's arm — a gesture that had her costars raising their eyebrows. Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 4 Jan. 2024 The kids' names are tattooed in birth order on Barker's back. Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 1 Feb. 2024

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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Cite this Entry

“Tattoo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tattoo. Accessed 28 Mar. 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 native 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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