A tear was a small tattoo of the Rebel Alliance Starbird situated below the left eye of the wearer. The motif was worn as a symbol of solidarity among survivors of the destruction of Alderaan, and was common enough among Rebel fighters from the doomed planet that it was recognizable even among Imperial troops; when ex-Rebel and New Republic dropper Cara Dune helped hijack a Lambda-class shuttle from Moff Gideon's forces, the copilot immediately recognized her as an Alderaanian from her tear.
The tear is one of several tattoos applied to actress Gina Carano for her role as Cara Dune in the Disney+ series The Mandalorian. While the bars on her bicep were revealed in the first season episode "The Reckoning" to identify her as a Rebel and New Republic Shock Trooper, the meaning of the tear was not mentioned until the second season finale.
Teardrop tattoos are worn in real life, though may have a variety of meanings. They are often associated with prison culture, but are also worn to signify sorrow or loss.
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