'tobacco-promoting' is a modern compound formed from 'tobacco' and 'promoting'. 'tobacco' ultimately comes into English via Spanish 'tabaco' (borrowed from Taíno), and 'promoting' derives from Latin 'promovere' via Old French/Medieval forms.

'tobacco' entered English in the 16th century from Spanish 'tabaco', itself from Taíno terms for the plant or rolled leaf; 'promote' comes from Latin 'promovere' ('pro-' + 'movere'), passed through Old French (e.g. 'promouvoir') into Middle and Modern English as 'promote' and its participle 'promoting'.

Initially the components referred separately to the plant/product ('tobacco') and the action 'to move forward or advance' ('promote'); together, the compound evolved to mean 'encouraging or supporting the use or sale of tobacco' rather than a literal 'moving forward' of tobacco.