the term, 'stogie'

[Ken Gargett]

The term, stogie.

As a young kid, I remember reading a novel which kept on about the bad guys and their stogies. Took me half the book to work out these were something one smoked – although I could not work out what. Could have been guns, third legs, armoured vehicles. It was all very confusing. And possibly indicative of the standard of writing, but I was young.

So, what is a stogie and where did the term come from?

To me, just another name for a cigar. I know that some see it as a term for cheap and dodgy cigars, but I think it can pretty much be used for any cigar. In a ‘term of endearment’ sort of way. Definitely not for cigarettes. Ciggies, durries, fags, smokes, coffin nails – all okay. Stogie? Not for a cigarette.

Others may not agree? Indeed, I found this – “Stogie is a slang term for a long, slender, cheap cigar which is already cut. Stogies make for a great beginner cigar. From this simplistic definition, let us clarify that one would not describe a top Cuban cigar as a stogie. It isn’t right.”.

I'm not sure I agree.

And from where did the term hail? No idea.

So, I did some digging. The same source, which my apols, I appear to have lost – “The name cheroot comes from a French word cheroute. Interestingly this word was adapted into French from the Tamil people in South India. The word meaning ‘roll of tobacco’. Dating back to the 16th century when France were making their mark on Southern India. A cheroot is a cylindrical cigar that comes with both ends cut. This makes them perfect for the beginner as the cigars do not taper and are inexpensive.” The author seemed to be suggesting that this is the origin of the word (though as I only have a few bits, given computer failures, I may be doing them a disservice).

More info – it would seem that there is not common ground. “So how does stogie come from cheroot? In short it doesn’t. Stogie was an abbreviated term originating from a town called Conestoga in Pennsylvania. The popularity of cigars in the USA and in particular Conestoga was growing significantly. Inexpensive, cheap, ready made cigars were very popular.”

But we have another possible source – “Conestoga wagons were used extensively during the 18th and 19th centuries a time when cigars became very popular in the USA. Interestingly, initially a stogie referred to the shoes of the wagon drivers. However as this was the time of the gold rush the amount of carts was increasing significantly and the amount of cigar smoking men with it. The drivers of these wagons nearly always smoked self made, thin cigars. Over time observers started referring to the drivers of the Conestoga wagons with the self made cigars as ‘stogies’ a shortened version of Conestoga. Over time, as the wagon activity began to slow, the term stogie became connected with the inexpensive, thin cigars. The shoe reference dropped but the term stogie has stuck to the cigars.”

Another author – pretty sure that this is a different one to the above – “The English word cigar is from the Spanish cigarro, which they took from cigarrales, a Cuban word meaning a place of leisure. Stogie is an abbreviation of Conestoga. Because the drivers of that wagon company, based in tobacco country, always had a roll-your-own cigar stuck in their mouths, observers called them stogies.”

Another slight variation – “The term stogie is actually named after Conestoga, Pennsylvania where one of the first cigar factories (in Pennsylvania) was built. I suppose you could call a brand like Parodi cigars “stogies” since they’re made in Scranton, Pennsylvania, but it’s now just a generic, slang term that refers to any cigar.” I only mention this last part because I can’t believe Scranton has a cigar factory and it never appeared in ‘The Office”!

Anyway, this gives a bit of history. If anyone has any other theories, please share.

[El Presidente]

Most excellent ken 

[Squarehead]

Now we know,or Not

[Danimalia]

Interesting to see the connection with Pennsylvania. There are still a few companies making cigars and cheroots in that area. Every once in a while, I enjoy one of those Italian style cigars made with fire-cured tobacco. I'd always thought of the word as just referring to cigars generally, without any indication of price or quality. It's not a word I can recall using very often, myself.

I have heard stogie applied to cigarettes here in California, usually shortened to just "Stog," like vogue. Seems like it was usually heard in the context of mooching, as in, "Can I bum a stog?"

[MIKA27]

For me, I have always associated Stogie with ALL cigars.

Even celebrities such as Schwarzanegger, uses the term Stogie for his cigars.

Great article Ken.

[Colt45]

I believe it comes from the latin stogvs, in reference to the rolled stogiatvs herbs toked during ancient roman bacchanalia.

I saw it on the internet, so it must be true.

[WABOOM]

I've never liked the term "stogie". Also never like "stick". It sounds like such a disservice to call it that. Just my opinion.

[smokeyjoe01]

I love the term ‘stogie’. Thanks for the info.