Does anyone know the origin of the word "cigar" and how many variations or versions have been used over the years, and in what locales and languages?

I'm sure Bill Clinton might be able to offer some insight here. X

The word Cigar comes from a Maya verb sikar which means "to smoke".

X, your right and he added in his review:
"....and a hint of tuna with a nice finish..."

KV

Here's an old Atlantic column on the subject... (Cigar terms not Clinton's improvised humidor.)

http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/96nov/wordimp/wordimp.htm 

if you want a book for cigars, history, use and culture, my favorite is the Ultimate Cigar book by Hacker. I have read probably ten books on cigars and though each offered some usable information you could tell the author(s) was full of himself, this Hacker is down to earth, knows a ton on cigars and the book is not only informative but very entertaining. A new edition came out last year. I mentioned it to my wife, then for father's day she waltzes into my local tobacconist, not only tells them she wants the book but wants it inscribed to me, and by golly it was!

I agree, I have read the new version from cover to cover atleast twice.. I learned a lot from this book..
Great read if your a newbie or an expert..

I borrowed this from somewhere else:

"The word tobacco, some say, was a corruption of Tobago, the name of a Carribbean island. Others claim it comes from the Tabasco province of Mexico. Cohiba, a word used by the Taino Indians of Cuba was thought to mean tobacco, but now is considered to have reffered to cigars. The word cigar originated from sikar, the Mayan word for smoking."