''Hold Fast'' Tattoo

By Crusader1307

A 18th Century AD Naval Tradition and Myth, the practice to ''Hold Fast'' was related to Deck Hands who had to climb the often dangerous Lines and Rigging of a Sailing Vessel. The slightest miscalculation could result in loss of grip and a fall (which was mostly instant death). As a means to counter such misfortune, Sailors began to tattoo the word ''Hold Fast'' onto their hands. Each letter to the word was placed on a separate digit (finger), until all (8) letters occupied both hands. By doing such, it was thought that the Sailor would not lose His balance. The practice died out with the end of The Age of Sail.