sleeve

v. to decorate an arm with tattoos. Subjects: English, Apparel, Appearance, & Fashion

Etymological Note: Directly related to a sleeve tattoo which covers the same arm surface a shirt sleeve might.

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Citations: 1992 Tom Berg Orange County Register (California) (Nov. 26) “Tattoos are no longer just for bikers and felons as they become a fashion accessory” p. O15: Aficionados prefer murals. They’ll get “sleeved”—an entire arm’s length of tattoos—or go for a chest panel or backpiece 1995 [jesster@wpi.wpi.edu (Jesster)] Usenet: rec.arts.bodyart (Mar. 15) “Re: Return of “Thematic tattoos””: I’m also thinking about sleeving in an oriental style. 1995 [geoiv@aol.com (GeoIV)] Usenet: rec.arts.bodyart (Apr. 3) “achtison ink”: Now all my ink is thought out and is done by noneother than paul booth, he just sleeved my arm last week. 1996 [no1liku@wavenet.com] Usenet: alt.rock-n-roll.metal.motley-crue (Feb. 18) “Re: The 7 people who bought Motley crue’s last album”: When the tattoo thing got big they went out and got sleeved. 2002 [sylverhwk5@aol.com (Sylverhwk5)] Usenet: alt.gothic.fashion (May 19) “tattoos for women magazine, help :)”: I am completley sleeved and my back is totally done now. 2004 [misterbeanz (Jay)] Jay’s Journal (Oct. 31) “A selfish weekend without Bria::Time with the Groove Fam”: I used to know a Kiwi tattoo artist back when I was getting sleeved. 2007 Kimberly Johnson Marine Times (Mar. 16) “Marine Corps to clarify tattoo regulations”: Marines have long complained that the existing policy allowing extensive lower-arm tattoos—commonly called sleeves—is not interpreted the same way by all commands.

Posted 1 Nov 04 | Permalink | Tell a Friend