Vape
/veɪp/noun
To inhale and exhale aerosol produced by an electronic cigarette or similar device.
Did you know?Vape is a modern shortening of vapor or vaporizer, ultimately linked to Latin vapor, meaning “steam, heat, or exhalation.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wep-
“To blow or emit vapor; a reconstructed root associated with breath and heated exhalation.”
Classical Latin
Latin
vapor
“Steam, heat, vapor, or exhalation.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
vaporare
“To emit vapor or steam; to give off heat.”
13th Century
Old French
vapeur
“Steam, vapor, or an exhalation.”
14th Century
English
vapour
“A visible mist, steam, or gaseous exhalation.”
1950s–1960s
English
vape
“A shortened form of vapor or vaporizer, first used for inhaling vapor or aerosol.”
Modern English
English
vape
“To use an electronic cigarette or similar vapor-producing device.”