The word "tattoo" is a loan word Samoan tatau, meaning the strike or to mark twice (the latter referring to traditional methods of applying designs). The first syllable "ta", which means "hand" is repeated twice Onomatopées as a reference to the repetitive nature of the action, and the final syllable "U" translates into "colour". instrument used to puncture the skin, in the Polynesian tattooing is called a hahau, the syllable "ha" A "meaning to strike or penetrate." The OED gives the etymology of tattooing as "In the 18th century tattaow, tattow. De Polynesian (Tahitian, Samoan, Tongan, etc) tatau. Marquesans, tatu." The first known use closest to the word in English was