Nicotine is named after the tobacco plant Nicotiana tabacum, which in turn is named after Jean Nicot de Villemain, who sent tobacco and seeds to Paris in 1560, presented it to the King Francis II,[2] and who promoted their medicinal use.

[4] The plant was also an instant success with the Father Superior of Malta, who shared tobacco with all of his monks.

Although André Thevet argued that he had introduced tobacco to France,[5] the plant was called Nicotina.

[3] For his service to the French royal court, Nicot was given the name 'de Villemain' and land near Brie-Comte-Robert.

There, he compiled one of the first French dictionaries, Thresor de la langue françoyse tant ancienne que moderne (published in 1606).