the word 'tabloid' began its life not with journalism, but with pharmacy. in the late 19th century, the london-based pharmaceutical company burroughs wellcome & co. registered it as a trademark for a concentrated, easily swallowed tablet, a name formed by blending 'tablet' and the greek-derived suffix '-oid' (meaning 'resembling' or 'in the form of'). the term was soon borrowed metaphorically to describe anything condensed or compressed. by 1901, it was applied to a new, smaller format of newspaper that presented news in a condensed, sensationalized manner, contrasting with the larger, more detailed broadsheets. this etymological journey from a pill's trademark to a newspaper format perfectly captures the word's core idea of concentrated, easily digestible content.

the word 'tabloid' is a modern formation, not composed of classical morphemes. it originated as a trademark for a type of medicine tablet.