Cotton swab
Cotton Swab
A Cotton Swab (pronunciation: /ˈkɒtən swɒb/) is a short spindle with one or both ends coated with an absorbent cotton padding. Such swabs have long been used for various cosmetic and personal hygiene tasks, particularly for cleaning the ear.
Etymology
The term "Cotton Swab" is derived from the English words "cotton" and "swab". "Cotton" (from the Arabic kutun) refers to the soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants. "Swab" (from the German schwab) refers to a small piece of absorbent material attached to the end of a stick or wire and used for cleaning or applying medicine.
Usage
Cotton swabs are commonly used in a variety of applications including first aid, cosmetics application, cleaning, and arts and crafts. The cotton swab was invented in the 1920s by Leo Gerstenzang after he attached wads of cotton to toothpicks. His product, originally named "Baby Gays", "Q-tips Baby Gays", and finally just "Q-tips" (with the Q standing for "quality") eventually became the genericized trademark for a cotton swab in the United States.
Related Terms
- Q-tip: A brand of cotton swabs.
- Earwax: A natural substance often cleaned with cotton swabs.
- First Aid: A field in which cotton swabs are often used.
- Cosmetics: Cotton swabs are often used to apply or remove these products.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cotton swab
- Wikipedia's article - Cotton swab
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