Definition of Cigar

Quit-Smoking Tips Slideshow

Cigar: A small roll of tobacco leaf for smoking. The word "cigar," from the Spanish "cigarro," first appeared in English in 1730.

In 1998, a National Cancer Institute report outlined cause-and-effect connections between cigar smoking and disease, including cancer of the mouth and lungs, heart disease and emphysema, and stressed the danger of secondhand cigar smoke.

In 2000, cigars sold in the US were required to carry a label warning of health risks associated with cigars. The labels (rotated at 3-month intervals) read:

• Cigar Smoking Can Cause Cancers Of The Mouth And Throat, Even If You Do Not Inhale
• Cigar Smoking Can Cause Lung Cancer And Heart Disease
• Tobacco Use Increases The Risk Of Infertility, Stillbirth And Low Birth Weight
• Cigars Are Not A Safe Alternative To Cigarettes
• Tobacco Smoke Increases The Risk Of Lung Cancer And Heart Disease, Even In Nonsmokers