'tobacco-control' is a modern English compound formed from 'tobacco' and 'control'. 'tobacco' originates from Spanish 'tabaco', ultimately from Taíno 'tabaco' referring to rolled leaves used for smoking; 'control' originates from Old French 'contre-rolle' (via Medieval Latin 'contrarotulare'), where 'contre' meant 'against' and 'rolle' meant 'roll' (a register).

'tobacco' entered English in the 16th century from Spanish 'tabaco' (from Taíno). 'control' entered via Old French 'contre-rolle' and Middle English forms such as 'controlen'. The compound 'tobacco-control' arose in the 20th century as part of public-health vocabulary to describe efforts and policies to regulate tobacco use.

Originally 'tobacco' referred to the plant or rolled leaves used for smoking, and 'control' referred to checking or regulating (e.g., records); combined in modern usage they denote organized regulatory and public-health efforts to reduce tobacco consumption and its harms.