<P> The teardrop tattoo or tear tattoo is a symbolic tattoo of a tear that is placed underneath the eye . The teardrop is one of the most widely recognised prison tattoos and has various meanings: it can signify that the wearer has spent time in prison; that the wearer was raped while incarcerated and tattooed with a teardrop under the eye by the offending party, this was a way of "marking" an inmate as property or to publicly humiliate the inmate as face tattoos cannot be hidden . It can acknowledge the loss of a family or fellow gang member; or in some cases, that the wearer has killed someone . Sometimes the exact meaning of the tattoo is only known by the wearer . The tattoo's meaning also can change depending on whether the tear is empty or is filled with ink . </P> <P> The tattoo is sometimes worn by the female companions of prisoners in solidarity with their loved ones . According to The Devil's Front Porch, a book written by Lester Douglas Johnson about serving 1927 to 1957 in Kansas State Penitentiary; the tattoo denoted a member of "The Old Fraternity"; referring to the Biblical Cain who slew his brother . </P> <P> US rappers The Game and Lil Wayne have teardrop tattoos signifying the death of friends . Amy Winehouse had a teardrop tattooed to mark her distress at husband Blake Fielder - Civil remaining on remand at Pentonville Prison . Basketball player Amar'e Stoudemire has had a teardrop tattoo since 2012; honoring his older brother Hazell Jr. who had died in a car accident . A teardrop tattoo is also worn by a Portuguese footballer Ricardo Quaresma . </P>

Teardrop tattoo on left side of face meaning