The Electronic Cigarette Glossary
Essential Words, Phrases and Slang for the E-Cigarette Community
The Electronic Cigarette has only been around for a few years and already the e-cig is starting to develop an associated vocabulary which could baffle outsiders.
Slang helps a community to achieve identity and to distinguish themselves from outside.
Smokers have already been under pressure for years from an aggressive non-smoking majority, and now, having found an acceptable alternative that gives them a pleasurable and safe way to indulge their nicotine habit, e-smokers find their habit under threat from established players with a vested interest in their former unhealthy habits.
It's no wonder that e-smokers are already forming a tight-knit community - with their own vocabulary...
Glossary
Analog Cigarettes - used to refer to "old fashioned" cigarettes. See Analog for details.
ASH: Action on Smoking and Health. Along with their allies, the American Stop Smoking Society, the organisation opposes the electronic cigarette. However, ASH UK cautiously supports the device, as ASH New Zealand.
Atomiser (US: Atomizer) - electronic component that turns the nicotine solution contained within the e-cigarette into vapour. See Atomizer for details.
Cartomiser (US: Cartomizer) - A combined cartridge and disposable atomizer. Sometimes used to refer to a disposable electronic cigarette. See Cartomizer for details.
Carts: Abbreviation of cartridges, which contain the propylene glycol solution which give the vapour of an electronic cigarette.
CASAA: Consumer Advocacy for Smoke-Free Alternatives Association (CASAA.org). Non-profit organisation campaigning on the behalf of electronic cigarette users.
Disposable E-Cigarette - designed to be thrown away after its e-juice has dried up.
Dipping - refers to dipping an atomiser into e-juice prior to smoking.
Dripping - Can refer to dripping a drop of e-juice on to an atomiser prior to smoking. Must be done with care to avoid damaging the atomiser.
Dry Smoking - Done when atomiser is flooded with solution. Remove mouth piece, take out cartridge, replace mouth piece and inhale. Be very careful to avoid damaging the atomiser by over heating it.
ECA/ECASSOC - The Electronic Cigarette Association (http://www.ecassoc.org/): An American industry association set up both represent the interests of and enforce certain standards on members.
Electronic Cigar - similar to the electronic cigarette (see below) but with a cigar style and flavour.
Electronic Cigarette - a cigarette where an atomizer vaporises the nicotine which is then inhaled as vapour as compared to the smoke normally inhaled.
Also known as the E-Cigarette, the E-Cig and even the E-Ciggy.
Electronic Cigarette Starter Kits: Complete kits which normally contain batteries, atomisers, chargers, a manual and cartridges. See Electronic Cigarette Starter Kit for more information.
Electro-fag: See Electronic Cigarette above, or electro-fag for example of usage.
E-juice - liquid nicotine solution for the electronic cigarette. (We don't recommend this ourselves for safety reasons.)
E-liquid - Ejuice.
E-Pipe - if you have read the other two you cam probably work out what an E-Pipe is...
E-Smoking - smoking with an electronic cigarette.
Flooding - occurs when there is too much e-juice in the atomiser.
LED - The light at the end of the cigarette. This lights up when the user inhales, resembling an analog. Depending on the model, the LED may convey information to the user about the battery, i.e. flashing when the battery is running out or glowing green to show it is fully charged.
Mini-Cigarette - smaller than the average e-cigarette, the mini-cigarette is actually the same size as the average e-cigarette.
Mod - Name for an electronic cigarette which has been modified into a unique design.
Mouthpiece - replaces the butt of an analog.
Propylene Glycol - A colourless liquid that forms the majority of the solution in the Electronic Cigarette. The liquid has been extensively tested for safety - see Propylene Glycol for more information.
Pen-Style - A particular style of electronic cigarette, known for its resemblance to a ball point pen.
Personal Vaporiser - A alternative name for the electronic cigarette.
Ruyyan Cigarette - the original electronic cigarette - usually has a coloured tip.
Snus - actually nothing to with an e-cigarette, but we liked the name. Snus is the Swedish version of snuff. Since Snus was taken up in Sweden, lung cancer rates in the country have dropped to the lowest in Europe.
Smoke-juice - another phrase for E-juice.
Throat Kick/ Throat Hit - the definition seems to vary according to the e-smoker, but essentially the feeling when the vapor hits your throat. Positive reviews of electronic cigarettes often mention a good "Throat kick." See our article What's Kicking Your Throat? for more information.
THR: Tobacco Harm Reduction. Much of the scientific support for the electronic cigarette has come from scientists involved in tobacco harm reduction.
Topping - topping up a cartridge with e-juice. Also known as topping off.
Wick - A small piece of fabric or cotton which is found in the cartridge, and which holds the e-juice.
Vape - to inhale vapour an electronic cigarette.
Vaper - A person who vapes (uses an electronic cigarette).
Vaping - the habit/pastime of using electronic cigarettes. See Paul Bergen's article Vaping.
VG - Vegetable Glycerine: Vegetable glycerine is a clear, colourless, odourless but very sweet liquid used as an alternative to propylene glycol by vapers who mix their own liquid. Some vapers maintaing it increases vapour production.
X-Vaping - to exhale vapour from an e-cigarette. (Actually, we just made this one up.)
More words - this is a work in progress, and with a new and growing community more words will soon be added. So help us out by letting us know if we are missing anything!