the meaning of the Q in Q-tip?

Question

does anyone know what the Q stands for in Q-tip?

Answer 1

I think the English Major is probably right.

Answer 2

Q-tip Meaning

Answer 3

According to the history section on the official Q-tips site, the "Q" stands for quality. But the familiar cotton-tipped swab wasn't always known by this quirky moniker.

In 1923, Leo Gerstenzang noticed that his wife had stuck a bit of cotton on a toothpick and was using it to clean their baby's ears. Thinking that this jerry-rigged swab might cause some damage to the kid, Leo designed a safer cotton swab.

He started the Leo Gerstenzang Infant Novelty Company to sell his new creation, which he dubbed Baby Gays. In 1926, he changed the swab's name to Q-tip Baby Gays, and eventually the product name was shortened to just Q-tips. Over time, the brand name has come to stand for any cotton swab, another example of a propriety eponym like Kleenex or Xerox.

While Chesebrough-Pond's, the manufacturer of Q-tips, says the "Q" is for quality, other sources with time to contemplate such conundrums have drawn their own conclusions. Some speculate that the name derives from the profile of the swab itself. We're not so sure about that one

Answer 4

According to the history section on the official Q-tips site, the "Q" stands for quality. But the familiar cotton-tipped swab wasn't always known by this quirky moniker.
In 1923, Leo Gerstenzang noticed that his wife had stuck a bit of cotton on a toothpick and was using it to clean their baby's ears. Thinking that this jerry-rigged swab might cause some damage to the kid, Leo designed a safer cotton swab.

He started the Leo Gerstenzang Infant Novelty Company to sell his new creation, which he dubbed Baby Gays. In 1926, he changed the swab's name to Q-tip Baby Gays, and eventually the product name was shortened to just Q-tips. Over time, the brand name has come to stand for any cotton swab, another example of a propriety eponym like Kleenex or Xerox.

While Chesebrough-Pond's, the manufacturer of Q-tips, says the "Q" is for quality, other sources with time to contemplate such conundrums have drawn their own conclusions. Some speculate that the name derives from the profile of the swab itself. We're not so sure about that one.

Answer 5

Leo Gerstenzang's Ear Sticks. How about Baby Leo's? Or Ear Wipes?
A better name was clearly needed.
I bet that you think Q-Tips® was his choice.
You'd be wrong.
Instead, he chose the name Baby Gays.
Yes, you read that right - Baby Gays. Certainly not a good name for the late 20th century.
In 1926, he changed the name to Q-Tips® Baby Gays.
So what did the Q stand for?
Q for Quality.

Answer 6

It's called a Q-tip because the tip is shaped like a Q. A round head with a small stick protruding from it.

Answer 7

It means quality tip, refering to the quality of the cotton on the end. Hope this helps

Answer 8

The 'Q' stands for 'quick' ... before there were Q-tips and 'cotton balls' people had to rip off a piece of 'cotton' from a 'batt' and then put it onto a stick to clean their ears or around their eyes. The Q-tip was the FIRST of the now many kinds of 'cotton swab' ... basically, a bit of cotton batting twisted onto a 'stick' ...

Answer 9

meaning tip

Answer 10

Quart tip