What does a swallow tattoo on the hand symbolize?

I heard it means you would fight anyone. If the hands are banged down on a bar it is a challenge to fight anyone...Thats in Australia anyway It means they already had a chestpiece and are running out of room. it means im an ex unemployed miner IT MEANS YOUR COOL? I saw lots of them in England, mostly on bus drivers and working class blokes. I asked some of them, and they all said it was to give them fast hands in a fight. It means that the person who has it has done jail time. It's from the earlier days when Sailors in the Navy (or suchother fleets) would cross the equator. If you crossed the equator, you would earn a swallow. During that time, crossing the equator meant that you were, obviously, a sailor and you have been around. My dad has one and he got it at 13 years old he eays he got it because it was the cheapest in the shop!!!!