# What does the Q in Q-tips stand for?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-q-in-q-tips-stand-for/78635>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 29, 2001, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-q-in-q-tips-stand-for/78635 "2001-08-29T01:27:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![DaveRaver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daveraver/32/1078_2.png) [@DaveRaver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveRaver)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2001, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-q-in-q-tips-stand-for/78635/1 "2001-08-29T01:27:13Z")

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?

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**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2001, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-q-in-q-tips-stand-for/78635/2 "2001-08-29T01:31:23Z")

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[Why do they call cotton swabs Q-tips?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_343.html)

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**Author:** ![monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monster)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2001, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-q-in-q-tips-stand-for/78635/3 "2001-08-29T15:50:01Z")

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Heck, I thought it stood for “Quilted Tips”. That makes more sense than “Quality Tips”.

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**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2001, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-q-in-q-tips-stand-for/78635/4 "2001-08-29T16:25:57Z")

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The Q is for Quit pushing it in so far.

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**Author:** ![jellen92](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@jellen92](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellen92)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2001, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-q-in-q-tips-stand-for/78635/5 "2001-08-29T16:32:12Z")

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I thought it stood for “Quick” - like, “Quick Tips”… guess not.