bakshishing
|bak-shish-ing|
🇺🇸
/bækˈʃɪʃɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/ˈbækʃɪʃɪŋ/
(bakshish)
small gift to secure favor
Etymology
'bakshish' originates from Persian, specifically the word 'bakhshish', where 'bakhsh-' (from 'bakhshidan') meant 'to give' and the noun meant 'gift' or 'present'.
'bakhshish' (Persian) was borrowed into Hindustani/Urdu as 'baksheesh'/'bakshish' and entered English in the 17th–19th centuries from contact in South Asia and the Middle East, becoming 'bakshish' in modern English.
Initially it meant 'gift' or 'present' in Persian; over time in English it narrowed to mean a small payment or tip and often acquired the connotation of a small bribe.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act of giving a small gift, tip, or unofficial payment (often to secure a favor or speed a process); tipping or minor bribery.
Bakshishing at the border checkpoints was common, as travelers paid small sums to speed up inspections.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/03 09:46