tattoo
1
[ ta-too ]
/ tæˈtu /
noun, plural tat·toos.
a signal on a drum, bugle, or trumpet at night, for soldiers or sailors to go to their quarters.
a knocking or strong pulsation: My heart beat a tattoo on my ribs.
British.
an outdoor military pageant or display.
Origin of tattoo
1
1570–80; earlier
taptoo < Dutch
taptoe literally, the tap(room) is to (i.e., shut)
Words nearby tattoo
Definition for tattoo (2 of 2)
tattoo
2
[ ta-too ]
/ tæˈtu /
noun, plural tat·toos.
the act or practice of marking the skin with indelible patterns, pictures, legends, etc., by making punctures in it and inserting pigments.
a pattern, picture, legend, etc., so made.
verb (used with object), tat·tooed, tat·too·ing.
to mark (the skin) with tattoos.
to put (tattoos) on the skin.
Origin of tattoo
2
1760–70; < Marquesan
tatu; replacing
tattow < Tahitian
tatau
OTHER WORDS FROM tattoo
tat·too·er, tat·too·ist, noun un·tat·tooed, adjectiveExample sentences from the Web for tattoo
British Dictionary definitions for tattoo (1 of 2)
tattoo
1
/ (tæˈtuː) /
noun plural -toos
(formerly) a signal by drum or bugle ordering the military to return to their quarters
a military display or pageant, usually at night
any similar beating on a drum, etc
Word Origin for tattoo
C17: from Dutch
taptoe, from the command
tap toe! turn off the taps! from
tap tap of a barrel +
toe to shut
British Dictionary definitions for tattoo (2 of 2)
tattoo
2
/ (tæˈtuː) /
verb -toos, -tooing or -tooed
to make (pictures or designs) on (the skin) by pricking and staining with indelible colours
noun plural -toos
a design made by this process
the practice of tattooing
Derived forms of tattoo
tattooer or tattooist, nounWord Origin for tattoo
C18: from Tahitian
tatau
Medical definitions for tattoo
tattoo
[ tă-tōō′ ]
n. pl. tat•toos
A permanent mark or design made on the skin by a process of pricking and ingraining an indelible pigment or by raising scars.
v.
To mark the skin with a tattoo.
To form a tattoo on the skin.