Bakshish

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A small amount of money given as a tip or bribe to secure a favor or service ; a voluntary charitable donation or gift given to someone in need or as an act of goodwill
2. Money offered as a gratuity or hush payment to influence behavior ; a gift given out of kindness or generosity without expectation of return
3. A sum given informally to expedite service or show appreciation ; a contribution made to help others or to demonstrate charity

Etymology: Baksheesh has a surprising origin for a word now mostly associated with a small tip: it comes from the Persian verb "baxšidan", meaning "to give, grant, bestow." The noun "baxšiš" meant the gift itself, so the sense of a reward given freely, rather than a payment owed, was there from the start. The Persian noun passed into Turkish as "bahşiş," and the word kept its range of meanings, covering a present, an honorary gift, and a payment for a service. English took the word from that Turkish form, which is why the spelling "bakshish" is a variant of "baksheesh." Its path into English ran through the regions where Persian and Turkish were spoken and where travelers had frequent contact with service workers who expected gratuities, and the word arrived carrying exactly that expectation of a small reward for help.