Five dots tattoo

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Illustration of five dots tattoo.

The five dots tattoo is a tattoo of five dots arranged in a quincunx, usually on the outer surface of the hand, between the thumb and the index finger. The tattoo has different meanings in different cultures—it has been variously interpreted as a fertility symbol,[1] a reminder of sayings on how to treat women or police,[2] a recognition symbol among the Romani people,[2] a group of close friends,[3] standing alone in the world,[4] or time spent in prison (with the outer four dots representing the prison walls and the inner dot representing the prisoner).[5] Thomas Edison had this pattern tattooed on his forearm.[6] The five dots tattoo is also most prevalent amongst gangsters.[citation needed] For example, in northern California it is a tattoo that symbolizes the membership of the "15 Street Locos", a juvenile institution gang, created and founded in Monterey County, CA and later spread across the county streets.[citation needed] In the US, it is also believed to have spread from Vietnamese gangs, who use it to mean, "A group of friends".[citation needed]

The five dot tattoo resembles the five shields on the Portuguese flag — the shields representing the five Holy Wounds inflicted upon Jesus during his crucifixion — and was formerly worn by many members of the Portuguese armed forces.[citation needed] It has since become a popular tattoo for first generation Portuguese-Americans and Portuguese-Canadians.[citation needed]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Gilbert, Steve (2000), Tattoo history: a source book : an anthology of historical records of tattooing throughout the world, Juno Books, p. 153, ISBN 978-1-890451-06-6.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Turner, Robert (2005), Kishkindha, Osiris Press Ltd, p. 53, ISBN 978-1-905315-05-5.
  3. ^ Daye, Douglas D. (1997), A law enforcement sourcebook of Asian crime and cultures: tactics and mindsets, CRC Press, p. 113, ISBN 978-0-8493-8116-4.
  4. ^ Vigil, James Diego (2002), A rainbow of gangs: street cultures in the mega-city, University of Texas Press, p. 115, ISBN 978-0-292-78749-0.
  5. ^ Baldayev, Danzig (2006), Russian criminal tattoo encyclopedia, Volume 3, FUEL Publishing, p. 214.
  6. ^ Sherwood, Dane; Wood, Sandy; Kovalchik, Kara (2006), The Pocket Idiot's Guide to Not So Useless Facts, Penguin, p. 48, ISBN 978-1-59257-567-1.
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