We have archeological records of tattooing going well into pre-history (the tattooed iceman dates at 3300 BC). The word itself sources from "tattau", a Tahitian word which translates essentially as "to mark".

tattoo machine
a device for making a tattoo

A tattoo machine (aka "tattoo gun") is the tool that tattoo artists use to put ink under the skin. Note that many artists object to the term gun because they believe it has negative connotations.

The modern western tattoo machine works through usually two electromagnets driving a spring-loaded reciprocating needle assembly. This assembly penetrates the skin about 6000 times per minute, although this rate is varied depending on the type of needle being used.

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