tattoo

The word tattoo is said to be a borrowing of the Samoan word “tatau”, which means to mark or strike twice, the latter referring to traditional methods of applying the designs.

The first syllable “ta”, meaning hand, is repeated twice as a reference to the repetitive nature of the action, and the final syllable “u” translates to color.

In fact, the instrument used to pierce the skin in Polynesian tattooing is called a hahau, where “ha” means to “strike or pierce”.