Wordie: Tattoo: Comments

Comment by chained_bear, 3 days ago

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:31:17 +0000

"Tattooing, a cant term used by seamen.... The operation consists in first sketching out with Indian ink their names, &c. where they chuse (sic) to be marked; then with needles, or some pointed instrument, they prick the skin through the lines; this being done, they rub into the holes some fine-grained gunpowder, which can never be extracted.

"This practice, borrowed from the Indians is generally encouraged, and has frequently led to the discovery of British seamen and soldiers who have deserted, and who, much to their disgrace, have sometimes been found in the service of hostile nations."
—Falconer's New Universal Dictionary of the Marine (1816), p. 700

Comment by chained_bear, 5 days ago

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:28:22 +0000

In the 17th and 18th centuries, a tattoo was the military command to publicans serving troops to close the beer taps so that the soldiers or sailors could return to their quarters. Allegedly its origins are from the Dutch doe den tap toe. As commands were routinely (in this time period) transmitted to troops via musicians (usually fifers and drummers), "Tattoo" can also designate a specific piece of music used to relay the command.

As well as designating this design I got inked into my arm. (It was not a flying-D or any other logo.)

Comment by bilby, 10 months ago

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:38:34 +0000

"For three years, Goodyear's Dunlop tyre unit has offered a set of free tyres to anyone who will get the company's flying-D logo tattooed somewhere on their body, and 98 people have taken up the offer." - 'Tattoos A Sign Of Advertising Status', The Age online, 5 Dec 2007.