Forms: 8 cherute, chiroot, sharute, 8–9 sharoot, 8– cheroot. [ad. F. cheroute, representing the Tamil name shuruṭṭu roll (sc. of tobacco). An Eng. phonetic form sharoot was frequent c. 1800.]
A cigar made in Southern India or Manilla. This sort being truncated at both ends, the name was extended to all cigars with the two extremities cut off square, as distinguished from the ordinary cigar, which has one end pointed.
1669–79. T. B., Asia, fol. 46 (MS. in possession of Col. S. L. Howard, Dorset). The Poore Sort of Inhabitants vizt ye Gentues, Mallabars, etc., Smoke theire tobacco alter a very meane, but I judge Original manner, Onely ye leafed rowled up, and light one end, holdinge ye other between their lips … this is called a bunko, and by ye Portugal’s a Cheroota.
1759. in Long, Rec. Bengal (1870), 194 (Y.). 60 lbs. of Masulipatam cheroots.
1781. India Gaz., 24 Feb. (Y.). Chewing Beetle and smoking Cherutes.
1800. Month. Mag., VIII. 727. One hand moves to and fro the warm sharute.
1807. Ann. Rev., V. 267/2. He who wants to purchase a segar in the east, must ask for a sharoot.
1839. Marryat, Phant. Ship, xxxii. Their Manilla cheroots.
a. 1847. Mrs. Sherwood, Lady of Manor, V. xxxi. 248. Monsieur withdrew to smoke his cherout.
1859. Fairholt, Tobacco (1876), 219. Cheroots are peculiar in their manufacture, not made by hand but wound on a wire, both ends being cut flat.
