Tear tattoo

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The tear tattoo is a symbolic tattoo that is placed underneath one's eye to create the impression that the individual is crying. Also symbolic of crying your problems away. This tattoo has multiple, regionally-variant meanings. Its usage is known to have originated in the Chicano gangs of California.^{[citation needed]} Often, it signifies that an individual has killed another person, particularly while in prison; at other times, it means that a family member, friend, or fellow gang member has died or been killed. These meanings can be combined to mean that the person has killed to avenge a dead comrade. Other times, it can stand for the number of years one has been in prison,^{[citation needed]} or the serving of more than one prison term; or be symbolic of someone's attempt to murder the wearer. In the UK a tear tattoo signifies being in borstal (young offenders prison).^[1]

If the teardrop is solid, it can mean that a murder was carried out; if the tear drop is open or clear in the middle, it means a murder was attempted but failed.

Teardrop tattoos can also signify the loss of a friend or loved one has died.Usually, for a male, the tattoo is given to show a brother died. An empty tear signifies that the loved one had been murdered. A filled tattoo signifies that the loved one had killed themselves or was killed in another cause other than murder (car crash, death penalty etc.). A tattoo with an empty top and a full bottom means that the loved one had been murdered but their killer was murdered by the tattoo wearer.

[edit] Famous People With Tear Tattoos

This list contains some notable individuals with teardrop tattoos:

Rapper The Game
Rapper Lil Wayne,who however has admitted never having killed anyone in the last verse of the song "Army Gunz," from the collaborative album Like Father, Like Son. Lil Wayne repeated the admission in the final verse of his song "Hustler Muzik," from Tha Carter II.
Rapper Birdman
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony member Krayzie Bone
NBA player Larry Hughes has a tear tattoo in memory of his younger brother, who passed away.
Rapper Gucci Mane has a tear tattoo that reportedly signifies his gang affiliation^{[citation needed]}.
Professional Wrestler Big Vito
Punk Musician Lars Frederiksen, whose brother passed away in 2000 as a result of an aneurysm.