baksheesh
|bak-sheesh|
/bækˈʃiːʃ/
small payment to influence or reward
Etymology
'baksheesh' originates from Persian, specifically the word 'bakhshish', from the verb root 'bakhshidan' meaning 'to give'.
'bakhshish' passed into Hindustani/Urdu as 'baksheesh' and entered English in the 18th–19th centuries via contact with Persian and South Asian cultures, becoming 'baksheesh' in modern English.
Initially, it meant 'a gift or charitable offering', but over time it also acquired the meaning 'a small payment or bribe to gain favor or expedite services'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a small payment or tip given to obtain a favor or expedite a service; gratuity.
He slipped the customs officer a baksheesh to speed up the paperwork.
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Noun 2
a bribe or illicit payment given to influence an official or gain unfair advantage.
Reports said officials accepted baksheesh in return for favorable licenses.
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Noun 3
alms or a charitable gift given to the poor or to religious institutions (traditional usage).
Pilgrims left baksheesh at the shrine as a sign of devotion.
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Last updated: 2026/01/03 08:08