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| Friday 12 Sep 2008: Tattoo = close the taps |
| The word for a military drum or music performance, tattoo, is derived from the Dutch word for the event, "taptoe", which means "close the taps". The taptoe was originally played to call soldiers back to their barracks and signal inn-keepers to stop serving drinks. English troops adopted the word while fighting the Anglo-Dutch wars in the 17th century. |