Buckshees

Part of speech: adjective, adverb

Definitions

1. Something that costs nothing or is provided free of charge ; an item received without payment or obligation ; an action performed voluntarily without compensation
2. A thing obtained at no cost or expense ; a benefit gained without paying ; a favor or service done without charge
3. Anything given or available for free ; a gratuitous gift or benefit ; a contribution or effort made without expectation of pay

Etymology: "Buckshees" is the plural form of "buckshee," an adjective and adverb meaning free of charge, and the word traces back to "baksheesh," a term from Persian and Arabic for a gift or tip. "Baksheesh" entered English through the speech of British soldiers and travellers in the Near East and India, where giving small gratuities was a common part of daily transactions. Over time, English speakers in those regions reshaped the Persian-derived word into "buckshee," and it came to mean something received without payment, a bonus or a freebie. The plural "buckshees" simply applies the same sense to multiple items, though it is used mostly as an adjective or adverb rather than as a noun.

Synonyms: freebies, complimentary, gratis

Antonyms: paid, charged