tattoos
- Scope note
- Marks or designs on the skin made by puncturing and inserting pigments. Practiced in ancient times until the present day worldwide and popularized in European and non-indigenous American culture since the 18th century by seamen returning from Polynesia. Motives for tattooing vary by culture. Tattoos may be purely decorative, may indicate rank in social structures, or be applied for spiritual reasons. In a contemporary context, temporary decals can mimic the appearance of true tattoos, whereas traditional tattoos are created by injecting pigment permanently under the skin's surface.
- Date of creation: 09-Dec-2024
Accepted term: 09-Dec-2024