Tattoos are an integral part of our lives. Whether we love body painting or do not understand it in principle, but we somehow have to deal with tattoos. After all, the bearers of the paintings can be our relatives, acquaintances, neighbors, and willy-nilly we look closer to these mysterious images and we wonder what the picture, symbol or seemingly totally inappropriate to this kind of body jewelry abbreviation means. "VUZ", "CAT", "EVA", "Bugs", "SIR" - what can all these words mean? You can only learn about it from the unofficial encyclopedia of prison tattoos.
Prison tattoos and their meanings - introduction
The meaning of some of the tattoos are quite difficult to explain and some are better never to know, but let's try.
In this article we will take a look at the pictures of the tattoos that I have at hand at the moment. I can not know all the meanings of tattoos, because my specialty is artistic tattoos. Therefore I will describe not everything. If you find a mistake - write your version in the comments.
At flea markets you can find a whole collection of tattoo signs on the disks. Here we will look at some of them. And I wish you never to see them in your life. 
To begin with, it must be said that NAKOLKA differs from modern tattoo culture by primitivism and monochromaticism. Although there are masters who still draw real masterpieces, due to the prison fashion - the images are usually done in the characteristic color blue. The quality of tattooing, too, leaves much to be desired in 90% of cases. Usually we see rather dull, blurry and disproportionate copies.
LIST OF NAME PICTURES - quick links
| #Spider in a spider's web | ||
| #Godmother | #tiger | #Rising Sun |
| #cat | #Sailboat | #CAT WITH KEYS |
| #Spring | #Breast eyes | #Bells |
| #The eyes on the buttocks | #Lenin and Stalin | #Stars on my knees |
| #swastika | #runs | #ss |
| #sir | #Knife in a spiked wire # | #rose # |
| #barrel | #cards | #Fly Bat # |
| #bull | #bars | #Monk writing a book with a pen |
| #Knife in the Neck | #candals | #pirate |
| #the rose and the dagger | #pointed | #joker |
| #wolf | #USA | #gold |
| #scorpion | #LHVS | #Theatrical masks |
Life by the "rules" - the TATU rule
And when beginning to study the tattoos of prisoners, one must immediately understand that these drawings or words have great meaning in certain circles. This is what distinguishes the TATU data from all others - it still carries a certain social meaning. Tattoo is similar to a written biography for a prisoner - it tells about the occupation, attitude towards the people around, the peculiarities of the prison life and even about sexual preferences, as well as about the available sentences, their causes and duration. For this reason, the tattoo can be applied to enhance authority or on the contrary to "perpetuate" shame.
About the meaning of tattoos can say "tailcoat with orders" - that's how the thieves' slang called the standard set of tattoos. Tattoos can literally become a message when they are applied to the body of a person who deliberately commits a particular crime in order to get into prison and transmit on his body to the inhabitants of this or that place some information. But, truth be told, such members of the media are rare in the area. More often than not, tattoos tell a story about the bearer himself.
Therefore, do not be surprised when you see a tattoo with the acronym "GOD" on the human body. Its meaning is "I will rob again". It is clear that such a transcription tells about a person's beliefs, his certain principles and desire to challenge the law enforcers of order. Historical "MIR" - "only a firing squad will fix me" or "SIR" - "freedom is paradise".
Prison tattoos - meaning. Decipher the pictures.
Nakolka "Epaulet". - Badge of Honor, for serious deeds.
Nakolka "Mother of God" - The prisoner was a thief at a young age. Sometimes means a talisman, against some misfortune, misfortune, bad luck.
"Subclavian stars" on the shoulders have 2 meanings:
1.Denial. A convict who denies the prison order.
2.Thief in Law.
A CAT is a symbol of good luck and characterizes about the cautiousness of the owner.
The abbreviation K O T - Native Inhabitant of Prison.
CAT WITH A BABY - also a symbol of pickpockets (pickpockets). Previously, guilty pickpockets were forcibly added to the image of a cat's head bow bow bow, which meant "knitted", that is, sold out to the "cops", the activist who wore a bandage. Today, cats with a bow bow are poked by all who want them, and the infamous meaning of the bowtie has been forgotten.
«Beetle" - this tattoo symbol of the pickpocket. The meaning of The meaning of the abbreviation G U K is Wishing Lucky Thefts.
Often applied to the hand, but it can also be applied to other parts of the body.
A "church" - this tattoo can be used to tell you how many years you have been in prison. The number of domes means how many strolls the inmate has made or how many years he has served in prison. It should be added that not everyone is allowed to do this tattoo.
Prison tattoo "Tiger." - Tiger" - a tiger that is angry at the government, the state, the police, also means the ruthlessness and rage of its owner. Recklessness of the owner is guaranteed.
#Sailboat means in prison slang "gastroller", i.e. a thief who only works in another city. Not where he lives.
«A spider in a spider's web " is the prison symbol for a thief. You should know that if the spider crawls up, it means "I have stolen and will steal. If down, it means "Stole and quit." Often means the symbol of a junkie. It's also used in civilian life.
"Rising Sun" is an interesting tattoo that which means freedom.. I.e. a memorable sign for the owner of the special.
«A CAT WITH KEYS " is a professional burglar.
Classification into groups, prison tattoos
Prison tattoos of criminals can be divided into three groups, according to their affiliation. The first group is the thieves in the law. No they are not people who make a living by stealing. They are the elite, the highest rank in the underworld.
To get this rank, you had to have a recommendation from other thieves in the law or known authorities, gathered gathering ("meeting"), which was attended by all the thieves in a given camp, prison or region. If everyone agreed, the candidate became a thief in law.
Tattoos of the prison, the thief in law
For this category there is their own group of tattoos that only they can do. No, of course anyone can do that, but if you end up with those tattoos in jail or prison and can't confirm that you belong to the chosen caste, then first you will be "brutalized" (beaten) and then forced to remove them and how you will do that is your own problem.
The next and most numerous group are the blatnoys, but they don't call themselves that:
- "prisoners".
- "bratva"
- "hobos"
- "tramps"
- "the hobos."
These are the most common replacements for the word "blatnoy.
People who support the prison laws, live "by the rules", such people are called "deniers" by the administration. Not only blatnoys can fall into this group, but anyone who actively resists, for refusing to do a job for example, there are just kinds of work that only the "downcast" can do.
The bludgeons have two restrictions on tattoos, you cannot have thieves' tattoos if you are not a thief in the law and the tattoos of the "downcast", which no one would "put on" if they were of sound mind.
The goats are convicts who cooperate with the administration of the camp, who have taken some position:
- librarian
- head of the club
- Manager of the club, the deputy manager, etc.
Cocks - the "downcast", "offended", "faggots". A group of untouchable outcasts, which also includes passive homosexuals. There is also a subgroup of, shall we say, "devils", "dudes" - they are just untouchable, they are not used as pederasts.
This group is tattooed forcibly, a kind of stigma, so that everyone knows that they are untouchable.
Prison tattoos and their meaning - continuation
Crucifix means its owner is a criminal mastermind.
The eyes on the chest - Interprets the slang for "Looking for the bough."
Bell tattoo means that the owner of the tattoo has served time completely "from call to call."
Eyes on the buttocks - the owner of it, belongs to the lowest caste of prisoners, downcast.
Tattoo Lenin and Stalin on the chest serve as protection against the Chekists' bullet. Bandits in the USSR believed that the Chekists would not shoot the image of the leaders. Now it is being poked at by ordinary people for the sake of banter.
Lenin is also a symbol of a thief. VOR is the leader of the October Revolution.
Stars on his knees - means that the owner will not kneel before the law.
A brief meaning of tattoo X, XXX
Tattoos "X", "XXX" are a symbol of a clear line, taboo to alcoholism, smoking, drug addiction. Their meaning is good and pure life, right way of life, as well as fidelity in friendship and love, cruel observance of moral and physical standards, honesty to yourself and to people around, struggle against different manifestations of discrimination, desire to expand your consciousness, way to conscious freedom, spiritual purification, loyalty to the single way.
Meaning of the tattoo X, XXX
Tattoo X as a symbol of the straight edge movement, which is abbreviated as sXe associate with the lifestyle of the participants of this movement.
Sxe imagery on the body is a shortened version of Straight Edge in English, translated as a clear edge. The movement was born at a time of revolution in sexuality, alcohol abuse, smoking, drug addiction. Young people with these kinds of tattoos were not poured alcohol by the bartender.
sXe for an unspoiled and moral life! X images are printed on the hands, mostly in large size. Tattoo X can be combined with other images and inscriptions.
The main rule of the movement is a healthy lifestyle without substances that are detrimental to the health of the body.
The second rule is loyalty in friendships and partnerships. The tattoo is a symbol of a healthy body, a healthy spirit and sound mind, a positive attitude in life, as well as unquestioning obedience to ethical norms.
The SXE tattoo is a symbol of sincerity and incorruptibility, opposition to discrimination in its various manifestations, the need to expand one's consciousness, the desire to feel freedom, spiritual enlightenment.
Another meaning is fidelity to the once chosen path.
Black cross on the hand symbol - an outstanding personality, openly opposing mass human immorality.
Often tattoos consist of three symbols "X" ("XXX"). Basically, such a mark is popular among music groups and people who refer themselves to street-edgers. In this case, the symbol is added at the beginning and at the end of the name or name, for example xSTARx.
In today's world, members of the SXE movement put their name between two X's (like xNAMEX). The combination of the words "straight edge" is traditionally abbreviated "sXe," which sounds like "scheme." This is how the phrase "on crosses" - "to be a straight-edge" - to stop following the principles and rules of sXe came about.
The oblique crosses, "X's," some Straight Edge followers voluntarily tattooed on their arm while attending hardcore concerts.
Often actors on the set of movies get a fake X tattoo, emphasizing the originality of their character. Often actors tattoo three X's, which symbolizes a love of risk, danger and adventure.
The triple "X" (XXX) in the tattoo design sometimes evokes the association with the sign on the bottle, which means the presence of alcohol in the drink. The meaning of the three X's in this case comes from the symbols depicted on alcohol barrels to demonstrate how many times they have been exploited. XXX on such a barrel means that the container is forbidden to be used.
Posted on 12/21/2016 - Updated on January 20, 2021
Ring tattoos are a criminal classic: they are worn with pride, and they often act as business cards of sorts. The ring tattoos are applied to the phalanges of the fingers in the form of rings, they are worn not only by men, but also by women.
Finger tattoos are usually done without compulsion, but there are exceptions. Tattoos symbolizing the lowest, most humiliating ranks are tattooed forcibly, so that when moving from one place of incarceration to another, the inmate cannot take a higher hierarchical position.
