Taboo vs. Tattoo: What's the Difference?

A ban or inhibition resulting from social custom or emotional aversion.

A signal sounded on a drum or bugle to summon soldiers or sailors to their quarters at night.

A prohibition, especially in Polynesia and other South Pacific islands, excluding something from use, approach, or mention because of its sacred and inviolable nature.

A display of military exercises and music offered as evening entertainment.

An object, word, or act protected by such a prohibition.

A continuous, even drumming or rapping.

Excluded or forbidden from use, approach, or mention

A permanent mark or design made on the skin by a process of pricking and ingraining an indelible pigment or by raising scars.

To exclude from use, approach, or mention; place under taboo.

A design made on the skin with a temporary dye such as henna or ink.

An inhibition or ban that results from social custom or emotional aversion.

To beat out an even rhythm, as with the fingers.

(in Polynesia) Something which may not be used, approached or mentioned because it is sacred.

To beat or tap rhythmically on; rap or drum on.

Excluded or forbidden from use, approach or mention.

To mark (the skin) with a tattoo.

Culturally forbidden.

To form (a tattoo) on the skin.

To mark as taboo.

An image made in the skin with ink and a needle.

To ban.

A method of decorating the skin by inserting colored substances under the surface with a sharp instrument (usually a solenoid-driven needle).

To avoid.

(nautical) A signal played five minutes before taps (lights out).

A total prohibition of intercourse with, use of, or approach to, a given person or thing under pain of death, - an interdict of religious origin and authority, formerly common in the islands of Polynesia; interdiction.

(military) A signal by drum or bugle ordering soldiers to return to their quarters.

To put under taboo; to forbid, or to forbid the use of; to interdict approach to, or use of; as, to taboo the ground set apart as a sanctuary for criminals.

(military) A military display or pageant.

Set apart or sacred by religious custom among certain races of Polynesia, New Zealand, etc., and forbidden to certain persons or uses; hence, prohibited under severe penalties; interdicted; as, food, places, words, customs, etc., may be taboo.

A pony of a certain breed from India.

A prejudice (especially in Polynesia and other South Pacific islands) that prohibits the use or mention of something because of its sacred nature

To apply a tattoo to (someone or something).

An inhibition or ban resulting from social custom or emotional aversion

(baseball) To hit the ball hard, as if to figuratively leave a tattoo on the ball.

Declare as sacred and forbidden

To tap rhythmically on, to drum.

Excluded from use or mention;

A beat of drum, or sound of a trumpet or bugle, at night, giving notice to soldiers to retreat, or to repair to their quarters in garrison, or to their tents in camp.

Forbidden to profane use especially in South Pacific islands

An indelible mark or figure made by puncturing the skin and introducing some pigment into the punctures; - a mode of ornamentation practiced by various barbarous races, both in ancient and modern times, and also by some among civilized nations, especially by sailors.

To color, as the flesh, by pricking in coloring matter, so as to form marks or figures which can not be washed out.

A drumbeat or bugle call that signals the military to return to their quarters

A design on the skin made by tattooing

The practice of making a design on the skin by pricking and staining

Stain (skin) with indelible color