tampon

What it means

1. A plug of cotton or other absorbent material inserted into a body cavity or wound to absorb fluid, especially one inserted in the vagina during menstruation.

   The only apparent difference between Playtex deodorant and nondeodorant tampons was the deodorant, yet the deodorant tampons did not stimulate the production of TSST-1.

   1987, Amy C Lee Wong, Factors affecting growth of Staphylococcus aureus and production of toxic shock syndrome-1

   1 more example

   I examined a tampon, from the outside only without removing the wrapper because I did not want to waste one, and considered aloud the consequences of pushing the offensively shaped object into my vagina.

   1988, Tsitsi Dangarembga, Nervous Conditions, Faber & Faber Limited (2021), page 145

   Synonyms: vampire's teabag

2. A double-headed drumstick primarily for the bass drum.
3. An inking pad used in lithographic printing.

In a sentence

The only apparent difference between Playtex deodorant and nondeodorant tampons was the deodorant, yet the deodorant tampons did not stimulate the production of TSST-1.

1987, Amy C Lee Wong, Factors affecting growth of Staphylococcus aureus and production of toxic shock syndrome-1

Where it comes from

1. Proto-Germanic*tappô“plug, tap”
2. Frankish*tappō“stopper, plug”
3. Old Frenchtape“plug, bung, tap”
4. Middle Frenchtampon
5. Frenchtampon
6. Englishtampon

First attested in 1848. Borrowed from French tampon, from Middle French tampon, a nasalised variant of tapon, a diminutive or augmented form of Old French tape (“plug, bung, tap”), from Frankish *tappō (“stopper, plug”), from Proto-Germanic *tappô (“plug, tap”). Cognate with Old High German zapfo (“stopper”), Old English tæppa (“stopper”). Doublet of tampion. More at tap.