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, 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]