Tattoo is a loanword from the Samoan word "tatau", meaning "to strike". The "Oxford English Dictionary" gives the etymology of tattoo as "In 18th c. tattaow, tattow. From Polynesian (Samoan, Tahitian, Tongan, etc.) tatau. In Marquesan, tatu." Before the importation of the Polynesian word, the practice of tattooing had been described in the West as painting, scarring or staining. The etymology of the body modification term is not to be confused with the origins of the word for the military drumbeat or performance — see "military tattoo". In this case, the English word "tattoo" is derived from the Dutch word "taptoe".
Tahitian language live to a very great age this temporary substitution could become permanent. In the rest of Polynesia "tū" means to stand, but in Tahitian it became "tiʻa", because the word was included in the name of king Tū-nui-ʻēʻa-i-te-atua. Likewise "fetū" (star) has become in Tahiti "fetiʻa" and "aratū" (pillar) became "aratiʻa". Although "nui" (big) still occurs in some compounds, like Tahiti-nui, the usual word is "rahi" (which is a common word in Polynesian languages for 'large'). The term "ʻēʻa" fell in disuse, replaced by "purūmu" or "porōmu". Nowadays "ʻēʻa" means 'path' while "purūmu" means 'road'. Tū also had a nickname,