From Spanishtabaco, in turn either from Arabicطَبَاق(ṭabāq, “a type of medicinal herb”), also طُبَاق(ṭubāq) (Spanish circa 1410, Arabic dating to 9th century), or from Taino. The term is thus either an Old World term (of Arabic origin) applied to a New World plant, or a New World word.