Word of the Day

: November 18, 2006

tattoo

noun ta-TOO

What It Means

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 in Context

I was awakened by a woodpecker beating a tattoo against the drainpipe outside my window-alerting other woodpeckers, and me, to his presence.

Did You Know?

Today's word has nothing to do with skin markings. That other "tattoo" comes from the Tahitian word "tatau." Today's "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 "taptoe" for a drum beat, and then English speakers borrowed the term (changing it slightly, to "taptoo"). 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.

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.