- The term was used in a headline, suggesting that it was primarily used to save space. It may or not be used commonly in speech.
tab (2)
noun; clipping
a tabloid; a newspaper or magazine with short, sensational articles.
Etymology : tabloid was original a trademarked name for a small tablet of concentrated medicine. It was then applied metaphorically newspapers and magazines with very condensed articles. There has been some pejoration and now tabloid often means a news source with questionable information and sources.
Source : "tab has photos" - an AOL news headline, November 15, 2008
Last modified: 3 December 2008