A to Z TATTOO MEANINGS .....MAY DIFFER IN OPINION i mean A to Z

Acacia Branch or Leaves - Eternal and affectionate remembrance Agricultural Tools - Labouring in the earth and depending upon providence; see also Scythe and Sickle Anchor - Hope Angel - Dignity, glory, and honour; missionary; bearer of joyful news Ant - Great labour, wisdom, and providence in one's affairs Antlers - Strength and fortitude Anvil - Honour; emblem of the smith's trade Apple - Felicity and peace Arm in Armour - A person with qualities of leadership Arm, Naked - An industrious person Arrow - Readiness (for battle); if depicted with a cross, represents an affliction Ass - Patience and humility Axe - Execution of military duty Banners - Refer to special action in which bearer was captured, or a reward for valiant service Bar, Barry, or Barrulet - "One who sets the bar of conscience, religion, and honour against angry passions and evil temptations" acc. to Guillim Barry Wavy - Troubles keep us in continuous exercise and reminders of providence (as waves in a storm at sea) Baton - Token of authority Battle Axe - Execution of military duty Bay Leaves - Poet or victor's laurel Beacon - One who is watchful, who gave the signal in time of danger Bear - Strength, cunning, ferosity in the protection of one's kindred Beaver - Industry and perseverance Bee - Efficient industry Bells - Power to disperse evil spirits; a hawk's bells denotes one who was not afraid of signalling his approach in peace or war Bend - Scarf or shield suspender of a knight commander; signifies defense or protection Boar - Bravery; fights to the death Boar's Head - Hospitality Bones (crossed thighbones) - Mortality Book If open, - manifestation; if closed, counsel Border - Difference between relatives bearing the same arms; also an augmentation of an honour Bow - Readiness (for battle) Bridge - Governor or magistrate Broom Plant - Humility Buck - One who will not fight unless provoked; peace and harmony Buckle - Victorious fidelity in authority Bull - Valour, bravery, generosity Bull's Horns - Strength and fortitude Butterfly - Psyche or Soul Camel - Docility, patience, and perseverance Cannon and Cannon Balls - One who has dared the terror of such a weapon in battle Canton - As in a flag borne at the top corner of the shield; reward from the sovereign for performance of eminent service Carnation - Admiration Carpenter's Square - Conforming one's actions to the laws of right and equity Castle (Tower) - Safety Cat - Liberty, vigilance, forecast, and courage Centaur - Eminence in the field of battle Chains - Reward for acceptable and weighty service; with crowns and collars, this suggests the bearer bore the chain of obligation or obliged others because of services done Chaplet (Floral) - Usually with green leaves and four roses; the crown of joy and admiration Cherub - Dignity, glory, and honour; missionary; bearer of joyful news Chevron - Protection; Builders or others who have accomplished some work of faithful service Chief - Top one-third of the shield; signifies dominion and authority; often granted as a special reward for prudence and wisdom or successful command in war Chough (Cornish Crow) - Strategist in battle; watchful for friends Cinquefoils - Hope and joy Civic Wreath (of oak leaves and acorns) - One who saved a fellow citizen's life or shown patriotism in defense of one's native land Clarion - Ready for war Claw of a Bird - Note the preyer that has been preyed upon Cock (male bird) - Courage and perseverance; hero; able man in politics Cockatrice (small serpent) - Terror to all beholders Column - Fortitude and constancy; with serpent coiled around it, wisdom with fortitude Cornucopia (horn of plenty) - The bounty of nature's gifts Crane (Stork) - Close parental bond; Vigilance if holding a rock Crescent - One who has been honored by the sovereign; hope of greater glory Cresset (Beacon) - One who is watchful, who gave the signal in time of danger Cross - Service in the Crusades Cross Crosslet - (crossed at each end) Signifies the fourfold mystery of the cross Cross Flory (Patoncee) - (cross flowered at each end)One who has conquered Cross Raguly - Difficulties encountered Crow (Cornish Chough) - Strategist in battle; watchful for friends Crown (Mural) - Defender of a fortress, token of civic honour; one who first mounted the breach in the walls of a fortress Crown (Naval)One who first boarded an enemy's ship; distinguished naval commander Cup (covered) - Office of the king's butler Cushions - Authority Cygnet (young swan) - Where gorged with a crown around its neck, signifies dignity Cypress - Death and eternal life thereafter Deer - One who will not fight unless provoked; peace and harmony Dice - Constancy Dolphin - Swiftness, diligence, charity, and love Dragon - Valiant defender of treasure; valour and protection Drops (Guttes) - One who has endured torrents of liquids, as in battle, depending upon the color of the liquid. Yellow: gold Blue: tears Green: oil White: water Black: pitch or tar Red: blood Drum - Ready for war Dove - Loving constancy and peace; with an olive branch in its bill, it signifies a harbinger of good tidings Duck - Person of many resources Eagle - Person of noble nature, strength, bravery, and alertness; or one who is high-spirited, ingenious, quick-witted, and judicious; "True magnanimity and strength of mind" acc. to Guillim. If wings "displayed," it signifies protection Eagle with two heads - Conjoining of two forces Elephant - Great strength, wit, and ambition Escallop (scallop shell) - Traveller to far places or victorious naval commander Escarbuncle - Supremacy; brilliant gem Escutcheon of Pretence - Claim of a prince to sovereignty; or marriage to an heiress of the family Estoile (star with six wavy points) - Celestial goodness; noble person Falcon (Hawk) - One who does not rest until objective achieved Feathers(usually ostrich feathers) - Sign of obedience and serenity Fess - Military belt or girdle of honour; represents readiness to serve the public Fetterlock - Victory; one who has taken prisoners or rescued prisoners of war Fife - Ready for war Fire - Zealousness Fish - A true, generous mind; virtuous for himself, not because of his heritage Flag - Refer to special action in which bearer was captured, or a reward for valiant service Fleur-de-lis - Purity; light; floral badge of France; represents sixth son as mark of difference Flint stone - Readiness for zealous service Flowers - Hope and joy Fountain, A roundle, crossed with wavy bars of blue and white - represents water, a spring Fox - One who will use all that he/she may possess of wisdom and wit in his/her own defense Fret (saltire through a mascle) - (Also, fretty or latticework)Persuasion Fruit - Felicity and peace Fusil (narrow lozenge) - Travel and labour Fusil of Yarn (yarn with the spindle) - Negotiation Gannet (duck without beak or legs) - One who has to subsist by virtue and merit Gauntlet - Armed for the performance of martial enterprise Goat - One who wins through politics rather than war Goose - Resourcefulness Grasshopper - Noble and home-bred Grenade - One who has dared the terror of such a weapon in battle Greyhound - Courage, vigilance, and loyalty Griffin(Head, wings, and talons of an eagle with the body of a lion) - Valour and death-defying bravery; vigilance Hammer - Honour; emblem of the smith's trade Hand - Pledge of faith, sincerity, and justice; two right hands conjoined represent union and alliance Hare - One who enjoys a peaceable and retired life Harp - Well composed person of tempered judgment; contemplation Harpy (virgin's face, neck and breast with the body of a lion) - Ferocity under provocation Hawk (Falcon) - One who does not rest until objective achieved Head (Human) - Honour; if the head of a "blackamoor" or Moor, refers to deeds of prowess in the Crusades Heart,Flaming - Intense, burning affection Heart,Human - Charity and sincerity Hedgehog - "Provident provider" acc. to Sloane Evans Helmet - When depicted on the shield, denotes wisdom and security in defense Hind (Female Deer) - Peace and harmony Holly - Truth Horns - Strength and fortitude Horse - Readiness for all employments for king and country Horseshoe - Good luck and safeguard against evil spirits Hourglass - Flight of time; mortality Huitfoil - Mark of cadency for the ninth son Hunting Horn - One who is fond of the chase, of high pursuits Hydra (dragon with seven heads) - Conquest of a very powerful enemy Inescutcheon - See "Escutcheon of Pretence" Ivy Leaves - Strong and lasting friendship Inkhorn - Art of writing and educated employment Keys - Guardianship and dominion Ladder (Scaling Ladder) - One who was fearless in attacking; if against a tower, be on guard against spiritual and corporeal enemies Lamb - Gentleness and patience under suffering Lamb carrying staff or banner with a cross - Faith; Brave, resolute spirit Laurel Leaves - Peace and/or triumph Leg - Strength, stability, and expedition Leopard - Valiant and hardy warrior who enterprises hazardous things by force and courage Lightning Bolt - Swiftness and power Lily - Purity; see "Fleur-de-lis" Lion - Dauntless courage Lozenge - Constancy Lyre - Contemplation; tempered judgment Marigold - Devotion and piety Martlet (footless swallow) - Symbol of the fourth son (mark of difference); may signify one who has to subsist by virtue and merit, not inheritance Mascle (hollowed out lozenge) - Persuasive Mastiff - Courage, vigilance, and loyalty Maunch (lady's sleeve) - "For my lady's sake" Mermaid - Eloquence Moon - Serene power over mundane actions Moor - Dates back to the Middle Ages when it was considered an honor to take a Moor's head Mortars - One who has dared the terror of such a weapon in battle Mule - Often borne by abbots and abbesses who have pastoral jurisdiction, but not real jurisdiction Mullet (five-pointed star) - Divine quality from above; mark of third son Musical Pipes - Festivity and rejoicing Oak Tree, Leaves, Bush - Great age and strength Oak Tree/Bush with acorns - Continuous growth and fertility Olive Branch or Leaves - Peace and concordance Ostrich - Willing obedience and serenity Otter - One who lives life to the fullest Ox - Valour and generosity Pale - Military strength Palm Branch - Victory, justice, and royal honour Panther - Fierce, but tender and loving to children and will defend her children with her life Passion Nails - Token of poignant suffering undergone by the bearer Pavilion - Readiness for battle Peacock - Beauty, power, and knowledge Pears - Felicity and peace Pegasus - Poetic genius and inspiration Pelican - Self-sacrifice and charitable nature Pen - Art of writing and educated employment Pheon (Spear-head) - Dexterity and nimble wit; readiness for battle Phoenix - Symbol of resurrection Pile - Represents large pieces of wood used in building bridges; engineering skills, builder Pillar - Fortitude and constancy; with serpent coiled around it, wisdom with fortitude Pincers - Honour; emblem of the smith's trade Pine - Death and eternal life thereafter Pine Cone - Life Pipes (music) - Festivity and rejoicing Plume of feathers - Sign of willing obedience and serenity of mind Pomegranate Fruit - Fertility and abundance Portcullis (castle gate) - Protection in an emergency>BR> Quatrefoil (Primrose) - Brings good tidings Rabbit (Conie) - One who enjoys a peaceable and retired life Rainbow - Good times after bad Ram - Authority Ratch-hound (small hound) - Loyalty, courage, and vigilance Raven - Divine providence Rhinoceros - Ferocious when aroused Rock - Safety and protection; refuge Rose - Mark of the seventh son Rose, Red - Grace and beauty Rose, White - Love and faith Roundles: Gold or yellow: bezants or byzantine coins (worthy of trust or treasure) White: plate (generosity) Green: pomme (apple) Purple: golpe (wounded) Blue: hurt or wortleberry Black: pellet, ogress, or gunstone (cannon ball) Red: torteau (communion wafer or manchet cake) Tawney: orange (tennis ball) Saddle - Preparedness for active service Salamander - Protection Saltire - (St. Andrew's Cross)Resolution Scallop Shell - See "Escallop" Scythe or Sickle - The hope of a fruitful harvest Seraphim(angel with three pairs of wings) - Dignity, glory, and honour; missionary; bearer of joyful news Serpent/Snake - Wisdom Shacklebolt - Victory; one who has taken prisoners or rescued prisoners of war Shamrock - Perpetuity; floral device of Ireland Shield - When borne on the arms, represents the defender Ship - Ancient sea voyages Ship Dismasted - Disaster at sea Skull - Mortality Snail - Deliberation and perseverance Snake - Wisdom Spear - Honourable warrior; valiant knight Spearheads (Pheons) - Dexterity and nimble wit; readiness for battle Sphere - Geographical or scientific reference Sphinx - Omniscience and secrecy Spider - Wisdom, labour, and prudence Spur - Preparedness for active service; pressing onward Square Symbols - Constancy Squirrel - Lover of the woods Stag - One who will not fight unless provoked; peace and harmony Stag's Antlers - Strength and fortitude Steel - Readiness for zealous service Stirrup - Preparedness for active service Stool - Hospitality Stork - Filial duty; close parental bond; If holding a rock, symbolizes vigilance Sun - Glory and splendour; fountain of life Swallow - One who is prompt and ready in doing business; also bringer of good news Swan - Poetic harmony and learning, or lover thereof Sword - Justice and military honour Table - Hospitality Tabor - Festivity and rejoicing Talbot - Courage, vigilance, and loyalty Tent - Readiness for battle Tiger - Fierceness and valour; resentment dangerous if aroused Torch - Zealousness; engaging in signal service Tortoise - Invulnerability to attack Tower - Safety and grandeur Tree Trunk - New life sprouting from the old Trefoil or Shamrock (three-leaved grass) - Perpetuity Trestle - Hospitality Trumpet - Ready for war Unicorn - Extreme courage; virtue and strength Vine - Strong and lasting friendship Water Bouget - One who carried water to an army or a besieged place WheatEars - Faithful Wheat Garb or Sheaf - The harvest of one's hopes has been secured. Wheel - Fortune Wings - Swiftness and protection Wolf - Reward from perseverance in long sieges and/or hard industry Woodbine Leaves - Love that does not injure that which it clings to Wreath of laurel leaves and berries - Triumph Wyvern (Dragon with only two legs and armed tail)- Valour and protection Yew - Death and eternal life thereafter

People i got it from a website and your opinion could differ so don't take it personally ....you don't have to agree with it......i just trying to bring what i found could be helpful .....Pe@ce Silverbackster.

thanx to me