Pintados

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A term used to refer to native peoples of the Philippines known for their tattooed bodies, often associated with warrior status and cultural identity
2. A designation for the tattooed indigenous groups in the Philippines, highlighting their unique artistry and societal values
3. A name that describes the tattooed tribes of the Philippines, recognized for their vibrant traditions and historical significance

Etymology: The Spanish and Portuguese word "pintado" simply means "painted," and it was applied to the inhabitants of the central Visayas islands of the Philippines because of their bodies. Early European visitors saw men and women covered in intricate tattoos and borrowed the Portuguese participle to name them, so "pintados" is the plural form, meaning "the painted ones." The term reflects the eye of the outsider rather than an indigenous self-description. The designs, often elaborate and covering much of the body, were markers of status, achievement and identity within their communities, and the European label captured only the visible surface of that artistry. Because the word is a plural, it refers to the group rather than to a single person. Its singular, "pintado," is the same Portuguese word that gave English its own sense of something painted or decorated.