Definition
A steel fence wire with sharp barbs or points at intervals, designed to inflict pain and discourage passage; also rendered as a tattoo design mimicking this pattern. As a tattoo motif, it became fashionable in the 1990s, often wrapped around the bicep or wrist.
Example Usage
The barbed wire tattoo was a staple of '90s rock stars and wrestlers.
Origin
Barbed wire fencing was invented in the 1870s as an agricultural tool; the tattoo design gained popularity decades later as a symbol of toughness or edginess.
Fun Fact
Celebrity adoption—particularly by actors and athletes in the 1990s—made barbed wire tattoos a cultural icon of that era, though many wearers later regretted the choice.
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