Glossary of Terms

Tattoos and Their Meanings

Want to know what a particular tattoo term means or an explanation of something related to tattoos? Here is probably where you will find it...

Aftercare Proper treatment after being tattooed
Anchor tattoos Old school tattoos favored by sailors but back in demand
Angel tattoos Popular form of tattoos
Ane-san Japanese term or title of respect given by tattoo apprentice to the wife of the tattoo master
Anesthetics chemicals and methods used to eliminate pain
Aotearoa The Maori name for New Zealand
Areola see nipple
Armband see armband tattoo
Armband tattoo limb circling tattoo "jewelry"
Atypical tattoos tattoos outside of the mainstream
Au The traditional hand tattoo tools of Samoa.
Ausolo The assistant that stretches the skin in a Samoan Tattoo
Autoclave heat/pressure device for sterilization

Bactine antibacterial/anesthetic aftercare liquid
Balm Lanolin based animal moisturizer
Baikaboku Black outline ink made from cookin oil soot.
Bakuto early Japanese organized crime group
Banks Joseph A 17th Century naturalist that documented tattooing.
Barawan design Traditional Borneo tattoo design
BDSM Bondage and lovers of pain
Betty Broadbent sideshow legend, the Tattooed Lady
Biker tattoos Tattoos worn by bikers symbolizing biker paraphanelia
Biomechanical tattoos Tattoos depicting human robotics
Blacklight tattoos see glow in the dark tattoos
Blade Movie featuring a tattooed vampire
Blood borne pathogen diseases passed via blood contact
Blow-out ink spread from tattooing gone too deep
BME body modification ezine
bmezine see BME
Bodmod Body modification
Body Play Magazine Published by Fakir Musafar
Bokashi Fading of black to grey shading in Tebori tattooing.
Borneo An Island in the South Pacific
Borneo rose Common stylized tribal flower design

Celebrity Tattoos Tattoos of the rich and famous
Celtic Culture from Northern Europe found mainly in Ireland, Wales, Scotland And France
Celtic Style Tattooing based on traditional celtic designs
Celtic design see celtic
Celtic tattoo see celtic
Cherry tattoos
Chinese tattoos Popular form of tattooing
Cosmetic tattoos Tattoos to cover up blemishes or after breast cancer surgery
Cover up Covering an existing tattoo
Cross contamination infection received through open wound
Cultural appropriation theft of rituals and behavior from one culture by another

Dayak A tribe in Borneo which still tattoos ancient tattoos today.
Disinfection elimination of most microorganisms from a surface
Dismorphophobia The fear of one's own body
DIY tattoos Do it yourself tattoos. Not recommended
Does it Hurt? the most commonly asked question
Dogu Clay Figurines of ancient Japan depicting tattooed figures
Dolphin tattoos
Dragon tattoos Popular Asian style tattoo
Durian Traditional Borneo tattoo design

Easter Island An Island in the South Pacific where tattooing was practiced
Edo Ancient Tokyo, and a period of the Yakuza Tattoo origins.
Eikon advanced technology tattoo supply company
EMLA cream topical anesthetic cream
Enigma Strange horned tattooed character
Eoon-addin A term refering to finger tattoos of the Marshall islands
Eoon-maj Traditional facial tattoo of the Marshall Islands
Eoten-boro Tattoos around the neck from the Marshall Islands
Epidermis see skin
Erotic Tattoos Tattoos on genital area, breasts, butt
Etching see Tattoo gun scarification
Ezine electronic magazine

Fakir Musafar widely accepted father of the modern primitives movement
Flash pre-designed tattoos for people with limited creativity
Flower or Floral Tattoos Popular form of tattoos favored by females

Gang tattoos Tattoos worn by gang members
Genital tattoos Tattoos on genitals
Glow in the dark tattoos. Tattoos used with a special ink that glows in the dark
Guy Aitchison influential Midwestern tattoo artist

Haida Native American form of tattoos
Haji see chin
Hane-Bori A method of traditional Japanese hand tattooing
Heart tattoos Popular form of tattoos
Hepatitis see bloodborne pathogen
Hitoppori Japanese term used for a daily period of 2 hours tattooing.
HIV see bloodborne pathogen
Hori In Japanese Tattooing Hori is prefix to an artists name.
Hori Chyo A traditional Japanese tattooist of the Meiji period.
Horihide The artist bringing Japanese Tattoos to western culture.
Horimono The polite word given to tattooing in Japan.
Hornbill Traditional Borneo tattoo design
Hypertrophic scar overgrowth of scar tissue

Iban Rosette A traditional tattoo on the shoulder in Borneo
Ida pat Traditional Borneo tattoo design
Ink rubbing colored scarification through cutting and ink application
Ipa olim Traditional Borneo tattoo design
Irezumi see Tebori
Isopropyl alcohol antiseptic alcohol

Jalaut see Iban Rosette
Japanese lettering see Kanji
Jomon The earliest period known of tradional Japanese tattooing

Kaeshibari Flipping tattoo needles to use the ink on the other side.
Kahayan man Traditional Borneo tattoo design
Kakushi-bori Tattooing near the armpit.
kala Tradional Borneo tattoo design
Kalong kowit Traditional Borneo tattoo design
Kanjis a style of tattooing based on Japanese lettering
kara-jishi Proper placement of images for Japanese Tattoos.
Karajishi see Shishi
Katakana Japanese phonetic lettering system
Katsunari Fukushi A Dr. of the University of Tokyo collecting tattooed skins.
Katzen Tigerwoman and wife of Enigma
Kava A beverage of the South Pacific used before tattooing.
Kayan Rejang R. Traditional Borneo tattoo design
Kazuo Oguri see Horihide
Ke-bori Hair tattooing, tattooing thin hairs in tebori
Keibunsha The publishing company of the Japan Tattoo Institute.
Kelingai kala Traditional Borneo tatoo design
Keloid overgrowth of scar tissue
Keshow-bori The tattooing of something to support the main theme.
Koi Japanese fish common in oriental tattooing
Koniho lip tattoo for women
Kowit Traditional Borneo tattoo design

Lapalapa the mallet used to pound the Au into the skin in Samoa
Lapita A type of pottery that shows tattoo patterns of Polynesia
Lasat mata A gift presented to a tattooist in Borneo as good luck.
Leppu Lutong woman Traditional Borneo tattoo design
Lettering Letters used in tattooing
Lower Back Tattoos Tattoo on lower back favored mostly by females

Maori Tattoos Heavily tattooed indigenous people of New Zealand
Marcaine long lasting anesthetic
Marilyn Manson Famous artist, musician
Marquesan tattoos Traditional Marquesan tattoos
Marquesas Islands A group of Islands in the South Pacific
Marshall Islands A set of islands and atolls in the South Pacific.
Mike Wilson "The Illustrated Man"
Minimum age to get a tattoo in most countries in 18
Modern Primitive atavistic behaviour/ best selling book
Moko Moko, or ta moko a traditional maori facial tattoo

Names regrets, Getting a lovers name tattooed only to regret it later
Nautical star tattoos traditional tattoo enjoying massive modern popularity
Naval or navy tattoos Form of tattoos done by servicemen
Neo-primitivism tribal-chic and the rebirth of primitivism
Neo tribal tattoos A form of tribal tattoos
New school tattoos Bright, vivid tattoo style
Nijuw-bori Tattooing of tattooed figures in Japanese tattooing.
Nipple tattoos Done either for decorative or medical reasons
Nitrile latex-free material often used in gloves
Nuki-bori To tattoo only the main without the support of keshow-bori

Occlusive bandage a bandage which stops air
Occlusive dressing see occlusive bandage
Old English Form of lettering common in tattooing
Old School Tattoos bold and two dimensional tattoos
Omi see The Great Omi
Omuo puaina Marquesan tattoo design based on carved bone earring
Oreiboko A one year period of service from the apprentice to master.

Pe'a The name given to a mans traditional Samoan tattoo
Pleasure Enjoyment received from the release of hormones
Polynesian tattoos Tattooing In traditional Polynesian cultures
Provon a kind of anti-bacterial soap

Queer tattoos Tattoos for gay men

rec.arts.bodyart USENET newsgroup dedicated to bodyart discussion
Rejang R. Traditional Marquesan ear tattoo for a woman
Retro Vixen Style popularised by 1950's style and old school tattoos
Risks Things that can go wrong when tattooing
Rose tattoos Popular form of female tattoos
Ryu-oh Traditional Japanese tattoo dragon of the waters.
Ryuda-shin Traditional Japanese tattoo dragon of the snake.
Ryugo-san see Ryu-oh
Ryuguh see Ryu-oh

Sacred heart tattoos Popular religious tattoos
Sailor Jerry Collins A tattooist/merchant seaman based out of Hawaii post WWII.
Sailor Sid see Sailor Sid Diller
Sailor Sid Diller early Gay Piercing/Tattoo Artist
Samoa A group of Islands in the Southern Pacific Ocean
Samoan tattoos Style of tattoos practiced in Samoa
Scorpion tattoo Highly stylised tribal design originating in Borneo
Scab Crust that forms over a healing tattoo
Scratcher a low quality tattoo artist
Seibei The first of the tattooed Yakuza (Japanese mob) bosses.
Sex see pleasure
Shannon see Shannon Larratt
Shannon Larratt owner of BME
Shisei (tattooer) A book meaning "tattooer" published in 1910 by Junichiro
Shishi A mythical Chinese lion Dog
Sihong Traditional Borneo tattoo design
Skapan chief Traditional Borneo tattoo design
Skin the largest human organ and canvas for tattoos
Skin removal scarification through skin removal
Sleeve complete arm tattoos
Soap cleansing agent
South Pacific A group of Islands in the Southern Pacific Ocean
Spore test the best way to know an autoclave is working
Star tattoos Popular form of tattoos
Straight-edge a clean-living philosophy of life
Suikohden A book of Chinese legend with tattooed heros
Suji-Bori The outline part of a Tebori Tattoo
Swallow tattoos Old school tattoos favored by sailors but back in fashion
Swastika culturally universal symbol of peace and love
sXe see straight-edge

Tahiti A small group of islands in the South Pacific
Talisman tattoo A tattoo in Hawaiin culture on the tongue, a guardian symbol
Tatau The traditional reference to the word tattoo in Tahiti
Tattoo ink permanently implanted under the skin
Tattoo convention a gathering of tattoo artists and enthusiasts
Tattoo diploma award or recognition given to an apprentice
Tattoo flash see flash
Tattoo gun see tattoo machine
Tattoo gun scarification Scarification done using a tattoo machine
Tattoo license legal
Tattoo machine a device for making a tattoo
Tattoo removal removal of tattoos through laser treatment or creams
Tea Tree oil Natural anti-septic oil harvested from the Melaleuca tree
Tebori Traditional Hand Tattooing in Japan.
The Great Omi Horace Ridler, heavily tattooed icon
Thengima see Enigma
Tiairi ashes of bancoul nuts used to make tattoo ink in Tahiti
Tohu The Polynesian god of tattooing.
Tongue tattoo tattooing on the tongue
Toyu Tradional Borneo tattoo design
Traditional tattoos see Old School Tattoo
Tribal tattoos A form of tattoos using tribal designs
Tsuki-Bori A methodolagy of traditional Japanese hand tattooing
Tuang buvong asu Traditional Borneo tattoo design
Tuang nganak Traditional Borneo tattoo design
Tuhuna The traditional polynesian term for a tattoo master.

udo asu Traditional Borneo Tattoo of dog design (Kayan)
Udo asu Traditional Borneo tattoo design
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Ukit Traditional Borneo tattoo design
Uma balubo Traditional Borneo tattoo of dog design
Uma lekan Traditional Borneo tattoo design
Uma Lekan Uma lekan tattoo on forearm
Uma Pliau Tradional Borneo tattoo design
Umiti A ceremony before tattooing in Polynesia
Urang Traditional Borneo tattoo design

Vagina Female genitalia see Erotic Tattoos

Wa A 3rd Century Reference by Chinese to the Japanese.

Xylocaine common anesthetic

Yakuza often heavily tattooed Japanese organized crime group
Yubitsume removal of finger joints by the Yakuza

Zzzzz If you reached the end of this!!