Category Archives: Swallow Tattoo

Sparrow & Swallow Tattoo Meanings

Swallow tattoo

People get tattooed for different reasons. Sometimes it is becasue they like a particular design, a specific tattoo artist or because someone that they look up to has the same tattoo. Some tattoos have deep meanings that actually tell a story about you just for having that particular design branded on your body for the rest of your life. The swallow tattoo is one of those tattoos that has a significant meaning historically by sailors who were showing off their sailing experience. Much like tear drop tattoo has meaning to those prisoners who are doing life in a penitentiary.

The swallow, or sparrow tattoo is derived from British origin dated back to the early days of sailing. Sailors would get an image of a Barn Swallow, usually tattooed on their chest, hands or neck. The swallow tattoo, according to the legend meant that the sailor had traveled over 5,000 nautical miles; a sailor with two swallows meant that he had traveled over 10,000 nautical miles.

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