1. Discovery and Naming: In the 16th century, European explorers encountered tobacco in the Americas, and it quickly gained popularity. Jean Nicot, the French ambassador to Portugal, was instrumental in introducing tobacco to Europe.
2. From "Nicotiana" to "Nicotine": Nicot sent tobacco samples to France, where it was named *Nicotiana* after him. This name, derived from the Latinization of his last name, became the botanical genus for the tobacco plant.
3. Isolation and Naming of the Active Compound: Later, in 1828, the German chemist, Wilhelm Heinrich Posselt, and the French chemist, Louis-Joseph Gay-Lussac, successfully isolated the active compound in tobacco. They named it *nicotine*, derived directly from *Nicotiana*, the plant's genus name.
4. Adoption into English: As the use of tobacco spread, so did the word "nicotine." The English language readily adopted the term, which became standardized as the name for the addictive chemical found in tobacco.
In essence, the word "nicotine" has its roots in the name of the French ambassador who brought tobacco to Europe, tracing its journey through scientific discovery and linguistic adaptation.