Informal abbreviation for cigarette, a thin cylinder of tobacco wrapped in paper for smoking.
Shortened form of 'cigarette', which comes from French, literally meaning 'little cigar'. The abbreviation 'cig' became common in casual speech during the mid-20th century.
The casual abbreviation 'cig' reflects how normalized smoking became in the 20th century, though its usage has declined significantly as public awareness of health risks increased. Interestingly, the word 'cigarette' itself was originally a diminutive, as early tobacco products were much larger cigars.
Cigarette marketing specifically targeted women to challenge gender norms ('You've come a long way, baby'); gendered health disparities in smoking still track these campaigns' effects, particularly in low-income and communities of color.
Use neutrally; avoid gendered marketing language or normalizing language that obscures health risks.
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