The five dots tattoo is a tattoo of five dots arranged in a quincunx, usually on the outer surface of the hand, between the thumb and the index finger. The tattoo has different meanings in different cultures—it has been variously interpreted as a fertility symbol, [1] a reminder of sayings on how to treat women or police, [2] a way members of People Nation or Nuestra Familia affiliated gangs identify (People gangs identify with the number 5, while Folk Nation gangs use 6), a recognition symbol among the Romani people, [2] a group of close friends, [3] standing alone in the world, [4] or time spent in prison (with the outer four dots representing the prison walls and the inner dot representing the prisoner). [5] Thomas Edison had this pattern tattooed on his forearm. [6]
The five dots tattoo is a tattoo of five dots arranged in a quincunx, usually on the outer surface of the hand, between the thumb and the index finger. The tattoo has different meanings in different cultures—it has been variously interpreted as a fertility symbol, [1] a reminder of sayings on how to treat women or police, [2] a way members of People Nation or Nuestra Familia affiliated gangs identify (People gangs identify with the number 5, while Folk Nation gangs use 6), a recognition symbol among the Romani people, [2] a group of close friends, [3] standing alone in the world, [4] or time spent in prison (with the outer four dots representing the prison walls and the inner dot representing the prisoner). [5] Thomas Edison had this pattern tattooed on his forearm. [6]