More Than You Want to Know About the Etymology of 'Tattoo'

This entry is in response to a question from Tom and Jane about the word 'tattoo.' They saw a sign about pipe bands and tattoos. They wondered what the connection was between bagpipe bands and tattoos. I think the sign they saw in Halifax goes with the derivation from Dutch. Interesting that 'tattoo' is the second most misspelled word in Internet searches!

From New Oxford American Dictionary

tattoo 1 |taˈtoō|noun ( pl. -toos )an evening drum or bugle signal recalling soldiers to their quarters.• an entertainment consisting of music, marching, and the performance of displays and exercises by military personnel.• a rhythmic tapping or drumming.ORIGIN mid 17th cent. (originally as tap-too): from Dutch taptoe!, literally ‘close the tap (of the cask)!’

From the Online Etymology Dictionary

tattoo (1)

"signal," 1688, "signal calling soldiers or sailors to quarters at night," earlier tap-to (1644, in order of Col. Hutchinson to garrison of Nottingham), from Du.taptoe, from tap "faucet of a cask" (see tap (2)) + toe "shut." So called because police used to visit taverns in the evening to shut off the taps of casks. Transf. sense of "drumbeat" is recorded from 1755. Hence, Devil's tattoo "action of idly drumming fingers in irritation or impatience" (1803).

tattoo (2)

"mark the skin with pigment," 1769 (noun and ver, both first attested in writing of Capt. Cook), from a Polynesian noun (e.g. Tahitian and Samoan tatau,Marquesan tatu "puncture, mark made on skin").

According to http://www.skininktoday.com/Tattoo-Designs/History/Tattoo-Etymology.htm -

There are two schools of thought on the origin of the word "tattoo". One school of thought has it that the word comes from the Samoan and Tahitian word, "tatau" which means "to mark twice, with color." This comes from "ta" "ta" "u" - mark, mark, color. The Marquesan (related Polynesian culture to Samoa and Tahiti) word is "tatu" which means to mark and puncture skin.

Some people claim that the word comes from the Dutch word "taptoe" which means to signal, and came from tap-toe, "tap" a faucet, and shut, "toe".

However tattoo originated, it is one of most comonly misspelled words in the English language. Popular misspellings include "tatto," tatoo," "tato," and "tatu." It is infact the number two most misspelled word in Internet searches, with most common misspellings being "tatto," and "tatoo."

Shires

The timeline on the history of ‘shires’ starts at 1066. There is a lot of history and not much consistency concerning the evolution of shires in Britain, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, who do it differently in each country.

I came away knowing that ‘shire’ morphed into sheriff, and Worcestershire sauce should be pronounced by the following rule -

Individually, or as a suffix in Scotland and in the far northeast of England, the word is pronounced /ʃaɪr/ (rhyming with "fire"). As a suffix in an English or Welsh place name, it is in most regions pronounced /-ʃər/ "shur", or sometimes /-ʃɪər/, a homophone of "sheer". Worcestershire (pronounced WOOS-tuhr-sheer) sauce was originally bottled in Worcester, England, in the 19th century by Lea & Perrins.

An article on the history of counties with lots of maps and a lot of not easily condensed

information about the layers of government which I think answers the question Tom asked can be found at -

-http://jonathan.rawle.org/hyperpedia/counties/history.php

From Wiki-

A shire is a traditional division found in the United Kingdom, Ireland and in Australia.

In Britain, "shire" is the original term for what is usually known as a county; the word county having been introduced at the Norman Conquest. The two are synonymous. Although in modern British usage counties are referred to as "shires" mainly in poetic contexts, terms such as Shire Hall remain common. Shire also remains a common part of many county names.

The first shires were created by the Anglo-Saxons in what is now central and southern England. The word is from Old English, scir, and appears to be allied to shear as it is a division of the land. The system was spread to most of the rest of England in tenth century.

The shire in early days was governed by an ealdorman and in the later Anglo-Saxon period by royal official known as a "shire reeve" or sheriff. The shires were divided into hundreds or wapentakes, although other less common sub-divisions existed.

The first shires of Scotland were created after the English model, possibly beginning in the tenth century. King David I more consistently created shires and appointed sheriffs across lowland Scotland. An alternative name for a shire was a "sheriffdom" until sheriff court reforms separated the two concepts. In Scotland the word "county" was not adopted for the shires. Although "county" appears in some texts, "shire" was the normal name until counties for statutory purposes were created in the nineteenth century.

Shire names in Britain and Ireland

"Shire" can also be used in a narrower sense, referring only to ancient counties ending in "shire". These counties are typically (though not always) named after their county town.

The suffix -shire is attached to most of the names of English, Scottish and Welsh counties. It tends not to be found in the names of shires which were pre-existing divisions. Essex, Kent and Sussex, for example, have never borne a -shire as each represents a former Anglo-Saxon kingdom. Similarly Cornwall was a Welsh kingdom before it became an English shire.

Sites for Sights

July 20 Scourie, Sutherland - http://www.scourie.co.uk/

July 21-22 Stromness, Ornkey - http://www.orkneyjar.com/orkney/stromness/

July23 Stonehaven,Aberdeenshire - http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/webcams/stonehaven.asp

July 24- 25 Kinlochleven, Inverness-shire - http://www.lochaber.com/kinlochleven/index.htm

July 26 Stirling, Stirlingshire -http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/areastir/index.html

July 27-28 Edinburgh - http://www.edinburgh.org/

July 29- 30 York, North Yorkshire - http://www.visityork.org/

July 31 Blenheim, Oxfordshire

August 1 Wells, Somerset - http://www.wells-uk.com/

August 2 -3 Mousehole, Cornwall - http://www.cornwalls.co.uk/Mousehole/

August 4 Salisbury, Wiltshire - http://www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/salisbury/home

August 5 Portsmouth, Hampshire - http://www.portsmouth-guide.co.uk/

August 6- 10 London- http://www.visitlondon.com/ http://www.londontown.com/

July 18 Glendale, Isle of Skye

The name 'Glendale' is the anglicised version of its gaelic name, Gleann Dail, which means 'valley with level fields by a river'.

Wonderful maps, attractions, pictures and other information at

www.glendaleskye.com

Local recipes, the Glendale newsletter and other items of interest at

www.glendale-skye.info

Dulcie Spencer’s recipe sounds lovely-

Recipe for Tomorrow

1 tablespoon of kindness , 2 teaspoons full of forgiveness , 3 kg of thoughtfulness
Method
Whisk up some helpfulness and bake it up and then spread it between wars.
Dulcie Spencer

July 17 Plockton

Clearances, Controversies, Herring Migration and Hamish MacBeth Oh, My!

Although it may seem as if time has stood still, Plockton wasn't always like it is today. Originally called Am Ploc, the settlement was a crofting hamlet until the end of the 1700s. As in so many other parts of the Highlands this all changed when landowners found it was possible to make much more money from their estates by letting their land to sheep farmers: and to make room for the sheep they simply cleared the crofters from the land, people who in many cases had lived there for generations. Many had little choice but to emigrate, and Plockton soon became a port of embarkation for those displaced during the clearances.

The Highland Clearances form one of the most deeply emotive topics in Scottish history, and one of the most controversial. The term usually describes the process in which, between about 1750 and about 1880, large numbers of Scottish Highlanders and Islanders were displaced from the traditional lands their families had occupied for generations, ending up in marginally viable coastal settlements, as fodder for central Scotland's rapidly growing industries, or as emigrants. It is possible to read many different accounts of the Highland Clearances, and find within them nearly as many conflicting views about what happened, and, especially, why it happened and who was responsible. There are even widely different views of the numbers of people involved.

In the early 1800s the landlord, Sir Hugh Innes, decided he could increase the value of his estates further by giving tenants cleared from inland areas an option to emigration: to resettle in a new fishing port he developed under the name of "Plocktown". New streets of houses were built, many with small crofts, pieces of land that the residents could use to supplement the income they derived from fishing. This was the era of the "herring boom" and Plockton rapidly grew to accommodate over 500 people, many living two families to a cottage.

But the herring boom simply ended when the fish changed their migration patterns, and the area was severely affected by the potato famine of the late 1840s. Before long Plockton became known as Baile na Bochdainn, or "village of the poor". It saw a resurgence following the arrival of the railway in the 1890s, but large scale fishing never resumed.

Plockton today is a lively place. Its place on the tourist map was firmly established when, in the mid-1990s, the BBC chose to film a drama series called Hamish Macbeth here. Three series were made and tourists flocked to see its setting. Though the TV effect has diminished, summers remain very busy here.

For more information visit- http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/plockton/plockton/index.html

Scottish Gaelic

(Click the map to enlarge)

According to official statistics, the 477 Gaelic-only speakers recorded in 1971 had either become bilingual, or died during the following ten years: because the 1981 census recorded no Gaelic-only speakers left in Scotland. The 2001 Census recorded just under 60,000 people living in Scotland who could speak Gaelic, or 1.2% of the population, the lowest figure ever. The distribution of Gaelic-speakers within Scotland is shown on the map: with the proportion of people able to speak Gaelic increasing steadily as you progress west across the country and especially to the islands: with the highest density, at just under 75%, in northern Lewis.

Source- http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/usscotfax/soc/gaelic.html

Scottish Naming Customs

"The general custom, to which there were some variations, was to name children as follows:-

The eldest son after the paternal grandfather
The second son after the maternal grandfather
The third son after the father
The eldest daughter after the maternal grandmother
The second daughter after the paternal grandmother
The third daughter after the mother

Younger children would be named after earlier forebears, but the pattern in their case was less settled."

("In search of Scottish Ancestry" by Gerald Hamilton-Edwards, Phillimore, 1983 Edition).

Scottish surnames occurring most often on the birth, death, and marriage registers in Scotland in 1995.

Rank Name Occurrence

1 Smith 2273

2 Brown 1659

3 Wilson 1539

4 Thomson 1373

5 Robertson 1370

6 Campbell 1361

7 Stewart 1278

8 Anderson 1187

9 MacDonald 980

Religion in Scotland

Scotland is a traditionally Christian nation in which, in the 2001 census, some 65% of the population said they were Christian. The Church of Scotland, or The Kirk, has legal recognition as the national church in Scotland: but, unlike the Church of England south of the border, it is not an "established church", i.e. it is not formally linked with the state.

During the middle ages Scotland showed - by contemporary European standards at least - considerable religious tolerance. It was one of the few states in Europe not to systematically persecute Jews, and in the Declaration of Arbroath of 6 April 1320, the great and the good of Scotland put their name to a document containing the statement cum non sit Pondus nec distinccio Judei et Greci, Scoti aut Anglici, which translates as "there is neither bias nor difference between Jew or Greek, Scot or English".

All in all, the story of the evolution of religion in Scotland does us little credit as a nation. Perhaps that is one of the reasons why, in 2001, Scotland's second biggest religion was no religion at all.

The history of religion in Scotland is fascinating and complicated. More about the history of religion in Scotland can be found at-

http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/usscotfax/soc/religion.html

and

http://scottishchristian.com/churches/

Traditional Haggis for 12

Traditional Haggis

        1 sheep's pluck (stomach bag)

         2 lb.. dry oatmeal

          1 lb. suet

         1 lb. lamb's liver

         2 1/2 cups stock

         1 large chopped onion

         1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper, Jamaica pepper and salt

Boil liver and parboil the onion, then mince them together. Lightly brown the oatmeal. Mix all ingredients together. Fill the sheep's pluck with the mixture pressing it down to remove all the air, and sew up securely. Prick the haggis in several places so that it does not burst. Place haggis in boiling water and boil slowly for 4-5 hours. Serves approximately 12.

Having trouble finding all the ingredients for Haggis? You can try some of these traditional Scottish foods-

Other Traditional Scottish foods:

Scotch broth - barley and vegetable soup

Cullen Skink - cream of smoked haddock soup

Cock-a-leekie - leek and chicken soup served with prunes

Bannocks - oatcakes

Scotch Eggs - boiled eggs surrounded in sausage meat and deep fried in bread crumbs

Birdie - minced steak and onion pie

Clootie Dumpling - a sweet dumpling made with currants, sultanas, cinnamon, brown sugar,

syrup, and ginger

Cranachan - a mixture of whipped cream and oatmeal

Arbroath Smokie - smoked herrin

Dundee Cake - heavy dark fruit cake

Scottish Sheep in the Road

Sheep are very accustomed to cars and generally it isn't necessary to slow down for them, as you would for a horse & rider. However, if they are standing at the kerb, admiring the grass on the other side, it is advisable to slow down in case they decide to wander across. If they are happily munching away, with their backs to the road, they won't budge as you whizz past them at normal driving speed.

Sheep often like to sit or stand in the middle of the road, as the surface absorbs the sunshine, making it a lovely, warm, dry place to sit. Don't destroy the peace and tranquillity by tooting your horn at them, it won't make any difference. Just slow down to a snail's pace and move very, very slowly towards them. Most will generally shift before you make contact but persistent ones will move the second your car touches them. If they still won't budge, jump out of the car and shoo them off.

Source- http://www.glendaleskye.com/location.htm

History of Argyle Socks

Although there are various stories on the origin of these socks, it's generally agreed they first showed up around 1500 as the footwear of the Scottish clan of Campbell in the town of Argyll in Scotland. The clan's colors were green and white, represented in their kilts and later, footwear made of the same cloth. From this simple beginning, argyle socks were born.

Sir Walter Scott, a Scottish writer and poet was largely responsible for immortalizing the argyle pattern when he brought attention to the design in a casual mention in his writings.

Argyle socks first became popular with the masses in the U.S. in 1949 when the president of Brooks Brothers, John Clark Wood, brought them to the states for a new casual look. He became aware of the sock pattern when he saw them on a golfer during a golf tournament he attended in Scotland. As the story goes, argyle patterns were first formed when Scots clansmen cut their traditional tartan plaids on the bias for use as foot coverings, thus creating the unique diamond pattern on the side of the sock.

July 11 - 16 Iona

Everything you want to know about Iona-

http://www.isle-of-iona.com/

Virtual tour of the Isles of Mull, Iona and Ulva-

http://www.tobermory.co.uk/Mull_virtual_tour.htm

The Iona community-

http://www.iona.org.uk/

July 10 Bunessan village on the Ross of Mull Inspires Music

Mull is the largest of the islands of Argyll and the third largest in Scotland. It has a rich cultural heritage, some most stunning land and seascapes and impressive wildlife.

The island's main town, Tobermory, is famed for the cheerful colours of its waterfront buildings and the yachts bobbing in the natural harbour, as well as being the setting for hit children's TV show Balamory.

Beautiful beaches and bays abound, from Calgary and Kilninian in the north to Loch Buie and Carsaig in the south. There are guided wildlife tours - the island is one of the best places to see rare sea eagles - and boat trips to the surrounding islands, including enchanting Staffa, where the motion of the waves crashing into Fingal's Cave - formed from giant basalt columns - inspired Mendelssohn's Hebrides Overture.

Bunessan is a small village on the Ross of Mull, on the road linking the ferry terminals at Craignure and Fionnphort.

Renowned for the lobsters caught offshore in Loch Scridain, the village has a number of tourist facilities including a general store and a post office, and boasts the only pub in the area. It is also home to the Ross of Mull Historical Centre. Sited in a portakabin on the roadside to the west of the village, the ROMHC was set up in response to world-wide demand from those seeking their roots in the Ross of Mull.

Bunessan is celebrated in the official name of the melody popularly known as 'Morning Has Broken'. The tune was originally a Gaelic folk tune and had words added to it in Gaelic in the 19th century by a native of the Ross, Mary MacDonald who lived close to the village.

from visitscotland.com

July 9 Dervaig, Argyll " Maintain Our Right"

Nestling in the north of the island of Mull, the village of Dervaig is only eight miles from the island capital of Tobermory.

Although small, the village is the hub of the local community and offers a place to relax, in a tranquil setting while being within easy reach of food or a drink, or perhaps a night at the theatre, as Dervaig is home to the famous Mull Theatre.

Info in case anything breaks down in Dervaig, Argyll -

Tradesmen in Dervaig, Argyll and Bute are guaranteed to be reliable and trustworthy and are approved to Government Endorsed Standards. Their registered tradesmen or firms get a job done on time, on budget and offer certain guarantees.

The Arms of Argyll and Bute Council

The Corporate Arms of Argyll and Bute Council reflect much of the history of the area which is administered by the Council today. The design broadly follows the Coat of Arms of the former Argyll County Council which in turn formed the basis of the design used by Argyll and Bute District Council.

The top left hand corner comprises the yellow and black Gyronny of Eight, the Campbell symbol and is a reminder of the influence once wielded by Campbell families throughout Argyll and Rosneath. It was also featured in the arms of the former Burghs of Campbeltown, Dunoon and Oban.

The top right hand quarter is made up of four symbols. The Saltire Engrailed and the Three Mullets or stars are from the arms of the Burgh of Helensburgh. They in turn were taken from the arms of Sir James Colquhoun of Luss, who founded the town and his wife Helen who the town was named after. The Burgh of Cove and Kilcreggan is represented by the Cross Standing on a Crag and the Winged Blade is the symbol of the Lords of the Isles who had their power base in Islay.

The Chequered Band is the Bute connection and it represents the Stewart family. It was found on the arms of both Bute County Council and Rothesay Town Council.

The Lymphad or galley was also associated with the Lords of the Isles, with the MacDougal family and the Lords of Lorn. It was featured in the arms of both Argyll and Bute County Councils as well as the Burghs of Campbeltown, Dunoon, Oban, Rothesay and Tobermory.

The gold Coronet was devised for Councils, other than Island and City Councils in 1996 and is based upon the green and gold pre-1975 County Council coronet.

The Gaelic motto Seas Ar Coir, meaning Maintain Our Right, was also the motto of Argyll County Council.

July 8 "Let Glasgow Flourish"

Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and the third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country’s west central lowlands. A person from Glasgow is known as a Glaswegian, which is also the name of the local dialect.

Even though everyone speaks English, you may need a translator for Glasgow Patter or Glaswegian. Glasgow Patter or Glaswegian is a dialect spoken in and around Glasgow, Scotland.

A few examples-

• Electric soup – Another name for Buckfast Tonic Wine, also a Scottish comic book, or, in general, anything that is more alcoholic than tasty. To be "on the electric soup" is to have lost control of one's faculties.

• Ginger – Any carbonated soft drink.

• Jeg – Any carbonated soft drink

• Mad wi it – Drunk or intoxicated (often abbreviated to MWI)

• Mental – Tough

• Mintit – Cool/amazing, rich

• Nugget – idiot

• Pure dead brilliant – Outstandingly good.

• Rockit -idiot

• Scooby – Clue, rhyming slang from Scooby Doo.

You may not want to move to Glasgow-

Glasgow has the lowest life expectancy of any UK city at 72.9 years. Much was made of this during the 2008 Glasgow East by-election.In 2008, a World Health Organisation report about health inequalities, revealing that male life expectancy varied from 54 in Calton to 82 in nearby Lenzie, East Dunbartonshire.

Glasgow's coat of arms

What's with the fish with rings in their mouths? Will the bell falling from the tree ever hit the fish on its tail? Wish I knew more Glasgow patter. I think it's “pure dead brilliant!”