'tobacconist' originates from English, specifically the word 'tobacco' combined with the suffix '-ist', where 'tobacco' came from Spanish 'tabaco' (from Taíno 'tabago'/'tabaco') meaning 'a roll of tobacco leaves or a pipe', and the suffix '-ist' (via Latin/French from Greek '-istēs') meant 'person associated with or practising something'.

'tobacco' entered English from Spanish word 'tabaco' in the 16th century; later English formed 'tobacconist' by adding the suffix '-ist' to 'tobacco', producing the term for a dealer or seller in tobacco products.

Initially 'tobacco' referred to the plant or a roll of leaves (or the pipe used to smoke it), while 'tobacconist' came to mean 'a person who deals in tobacco' and the term has largely retained that meaning.