A thin cigarette made by rolling tobacco in a dried leaf, typically smoked in India and other parts of South Asia. A hand-rolled cigarette wrapped in a tendu or temburni leaf.
From Hindi बीड़ी (bīṛī), possibly derived from बीड़ना (bīṛnā) meaning 'to roll' or 'to wrap'. The word entered English in the 20th century as these traditional Indian cigarettes became known to English speakers through colonial contact and later through Indian diaspora communities. Bidis are typically made by rolling tobacco in tendu leaves and tying them with thread, representing a traditional alternative to manufactured cigarettes.
While the world knows cigarettes, India perfected the bidi thousands of years ago using leaves instead of paper! This humble hand-rolled smoke represents one of humanity's oldest tobacco traditions, and the word entered English as global health studies began comparing different smoking practices.
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