'nicotine' originates from French, specifically the word 'nicotine', ultimately named after the French diplomat 'Jean Nicot' whose name was given to the tobacco genus 'Nicotiana'.

'nicotine' developed from the New Latin genus name 'Nicotiana' (named for Jean Nicot); the specific alkaloid was isolated and named 'nicotine' in 1828 by German chemists, and the modern English word derives from these usages.

Initially the name was associated with the tobacco plant (via the genus 'Nicotiana' named for Jean Nicot); over time it shifted to refer specifically to the alkaloid discovered in the 19th century and now primarily means the addictive chemical found in tobacco.