First Known Use: circa 1627
Dictionary
1tattoo
noun tat·too \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
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Origin of TATTOO
alteration of earlier taptoo, from Dutch taptoe, from the phrase tap toe! taps shut!
Other Music Terms
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
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
4tattoo
noun
plural tattoos
Definition of TATTOO
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
TATTOOS Defined for Kids
1tattoo
verb tat·too \ta-ˈtü\
tat·tooedtat·too·ing
Definition of TATTOO for Kids
: to mark the body with a picture or pattern by using a needle to put color under the skin
2tattoo
noun
plural tat·toos
Definition of TATTOO for Kids
: a picture or design made by putting color under the skin
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