Why do British people call cigarettes fags?

The earliest recorded usage meaning 'cigarette' is from 1888, and the word appears to be referring to a meaning of the word 'fag' as a piece of loose-hanging material or stuff, in the way a cigarette dangles. read more

Is it because only gay people smoke there or is it some national obsession over there. We didn't raise them to use that kind of language! read more

The earliest recorded usage meaning ‘cigarette’ is from 1888, and the word appears to be referring to a meaning of the word ‘fag’ as a piece of loose-hanging material or stuff, in the way a cigarette dangles. read more

Cigarettes have a non-smokable butt (or filter) on one end that is useless, so the term"Fag" got applied to the butts, and ended up being used for the whole of the cigarette. The word"fag" is a British term, used to describe a tobacco cigarette. read more