Tear tattoo

The tear tattoo is a symbolic tattoo with varied connotations that is placed underneath the eye. Teardrop tattoos usually signify the loss of a friend or loved one. Often, for a male, the tattoo is given to represent the death of a brother.Fact|date=July 2008 An empty tear signifies that the loved one has been killed or that the bearer has unsuccessfully attempted murder.cite web | title=The Teardrop Tattoo | work=A Tattooed Blog by Noel Boyd | url=http://www.noelboyd.com/2008/03/teardrop-tattoo.html | accessdate=2008-09-14] A filled tattoo signifies that a loved one has taken his or her own life, or was killed by a cause other than murder (car crash, death penalty, etc.) A tear with an empty top and a full bottom means that the wearer has avenged the murder of a loved one.

Tear tattoos, when given in prison, primarily indicate that the bearer has murdered someone, either in or out of jail.cite web | title=Break the Tattoo Code - The Tear drop Tattoo | work=INKEDBlog | url=http://www.inkedblog.com/archives/2005/09/break_the_tatto.html | accessdate=2008-09-14] cite web | title=Meanings of tattoos that start with the letter T | work=Target Tattoo | url=http://www.targettattoo.com/symbols/T.htm | accessdate=2008-09-14] In Australian prisons, teardrop tattoos are often forcibly given to convicted child molesters by other inmates. The tattoo can also be given to commemorate a loved one who died while the wearer was incarcerated.

Famous people with tear tattoos

This list contains some notable individuals with teardrop tattoos:

Rappers

* The Gamecite web | title=The Game's Best and Worst Body Parts to Get Tattooed | work=The Boombox Music Blog | url=http://www.theboombox.com/2008/08/26/the-games-best-and-worst-body-parts-to-get-tattooed/ | accessdate=2008-09-14]
* Lil Wayne
* Birdman

Other

* NBA player Larry Hughes has a tear tattoo in memory of his younger brother, who died cite web | title=One year later, Hughes still hurting | work=The Cleveland Plain Dealer | url=http://blog.cleveland.com/earlyedition/2007/05/one_year_later_hughes_still_hu.html | accessdate=2008-09-14]
* R&B singer Amy Winehouse drew a tear under her left eye with eyeliner after husband Blake Fielder-Civil was admitted to a prison hospital for a suspected heroin overdose cite web | title=Amy's new tattoo | work=The Guardian | url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2007/dec/10/amywinehousetattoo | accessdate=2008-09-14] cite web | title=Amy Winehouse wears a tear on her cheek as husband Blake recovers from prison overdose | work=Mail Online | url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-515538/Amy-Winehouse-wears-tear-cheek-husband-Blake-recovers-prison-overdose.html | accessdate=2008-09-14]

ee also

* Criminal tattoo
* Gangs
* Memorial

References