Fags

/fægz/ noun

Definition

British English slang for cigarettes, or historically in schools, younger students who did chores for older ones.

Etymology

For cigarettes, from 1888 British slang of uncertain origin. For the school meaning, possibly from 'fagging' (drudgery), related to 'fatigue.' Both meanings are region-specific.

Kelly Says

This word brilliantly demonstrates how meaning is local and historical—the British cigarette meaning is completely innocent and still widely used, but American slang gave it a completely different offensive sense.

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