What is a Tattoo

I'm sure we have all heard of the word tattoo. Today it is almost common place to hear or say the word tattoo. We always hear how certain celebrities got a fairy tattoo on the weekend or how Posh Spice has to put up with David Beckham's tattoo addiction. (Poor dear.) We even see and hear the word on TV commercials these days. If you ever read the Girl with a Dragon Tattoo book, or watched most  of the movies newly released, you've been presented with a tattoo in some form. Certain manufacturing companies are now marketing their products around tattoos. So what is a tattoo you maybe asking yourself?

Well the definition of a tattoo is "A permanent marking of the skin made by inserting indelible ink". It was first used by the Samoans, and they refer to the word as "tatu" instead of the English word tattoo. Tattoos went from there to being used by sailors and pirates then carnival workers to where we are today, when even your local soccer mom sports one proudly. Anyways, I don't want this hub to be a history lesson. I just find it fascinating how over time we can forget what a tattoo actually is. Take for example a temporary tattoo. Although it has the word tattoo in it, it is in actual fact not a tattoo at all. "Temporary tattoos" are not permanent and are not inserted into the top layer of the skin. It is merely a long lasting sticker inspired by art used for tattoos and that's it.

Likewise, the clothing, art work and accessories branded by the word tattoo should be called tattoo inspired. This would be more accurate a description. I'm not a stickler. I'm actually happy that you can now enjoy tattoo art even if you'd be hesitant to actually mark your skin with one. So if it means a better marketing of these items to call them tattoo sheets, tattoo lighters or the like, I'm ok with that.  The history of tattoos is a very interesting one, so take a look at it sometime, you might be surprised.