tattooing
tattooing
UK[təˈtuːɪŋ]US[tæˈtuːɪŋ]
n
the process or practice of marking the skin with indelible designs by puncturing it and inserting pigment.
v
(gerund or present participle) the act of marking (skin) with a tattoo.
Morpheme Breakdown
tattoo
ing
tattoo
mark, strike
ing
Etymology
the word 'tattoo' entered english in the late 18th century from polynesian languages, specifically tahitian 'tatau' and samoan 'tatau', meaning 'to strike' or 'to mark'. this directly references the traditional method of applying designs by tapping a needle into the skin. the '-ing' suffix is a native english grammatical element used to form the present participle or gerund, indicating the ongoing action or process. thus, 'tattooing' literally means 'the process of marking by striking', preserving the core action of its polynesian source while adopting standard english verbal morphology.
Analysis
Structure: tattoo + ing
tattoo (loanword from polynesian languages, meaning 'mark, strike'); ing (english, suffix forming verbal nouns or present participles).
Examples
tattooing is an ancient art form with deep cultural significance in many societies.
he is considering tattooing a sleeve of intricate designs on his arm.
modern tattooing requires strict hygiene practices to prevent infection.