cigarillo
Meaning
a small, thin cigar.
Structure
Usage
he prefers a quick cigarillo after dinner rather than a full-sized cigar.
the air in the cafe was hazy with the smoke from thin cigarillos.
she purchased a pack of flavored cigarillos from the tobacconist.
Etymology
the word 'cigarillo' is a direct borrowing from spanish, where it is a diminutive form of 'cigarro' (cigar). the spanish suffix '-illo', derived from the latin diminutive '-ellus', is attached to indicate a smaller version of the object. thus, the term literally translates to "a little cigar," a meaning it retains precisely in modern english. it entered english usage in the mid-19th century, reflecting the cultural import of tobacco products from the spanish-speaking world.
Analysis
- cigar: from spanish 'cigarro', likely from mayan 'siyar' (to smoke rolled tobacco leaves). functions as the core noun. - illo: a spanish diminutive suffix, from latin '-ellus', indicating small size or endearment. functions as a derivational suffix modifying the root.