What does the "Q" stand for in the cotton swabs product called "Q-tips"®?

Q-tips or cotton swabs, are commonly used as a quick way to remove wax, water, or dirt from the ear.

Upon observing his wife applying wads of cotton to toothpicks to clean their infant's ears, Leo Gerstenzang (1892-1973), conceived the idea of manufacturing a ready-to-use cotton swab. He founded the Leo Gerstenzang Infant Novelty Co., a firm which marketed baby care accessories.

The product was originally called "Baby Gays" and in 1926, the labels were changed to read "Q-tips Baby Gays". Later, the name Baby Gays was discarded and Q-tips became the identifying mark for cotton swabs. The “Q” in Q-tips stands for quality and the word “tips” describes the cotton swab at the end of the stick.

The product went on to become the most widely sold brand name of cotton swabs in North America. The term "Q-tip" is often used as a genericized trademark for a cotton swab in the United States and Canada. The Q-tips brand is owned by Unilever and had over $200 million in US sales in 2014.