tobacco [M16th] This is from Spanish tabaco, but where it came from before that is confused. It is said to be either from a Carib word for a tobacco pipe or from a Taino word for a primitive cigar. However, there is also an Arabic word tabbaq used for various herbs, and it is possible that Spaniards, influenced as they were by Moorish culture, used this old Arabic word for the new herb, or blended the different strands together.