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baksheesh

or bak·shish, bak·shis

[ bak-sheesh, bak-sheesh ]
/ ˈbæk ʃiʃ, bækˈʃiʃ /
(in the Near and Middle East)
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noun

a tip, present, or gratuity.

verb (used with or without object)

to give a tip.

RELATED WORDS

salary, wage, fee, perk, tip, commission, recompense, payback, percentage, reward, perquisite, remuneration, commish

Nearby words

  1. baking soda,
  2. bakke decision,
  3. bakkie,
  4. baklava,
  5. bakra,
  6. bakst,
  7. baku,
  8. bakunin,
  9. bakunin, mikhail,
  10. bakwanga

Origin of baksheesh

First recorded in 1615–25, baksheesh is from the Persian word bakhshish gift
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for baksheesh

British Dictionary definitions for baksheesh

baksheesh

backsheesh

(in some Eastern countries, esp formerly)

noun

money given as a tip, a present, or alms

verb

to give such money to (a person)

Word Origin for baksheesh

C17: from Persian bakhshīsh, from bakhshīdan to give; related to Sanskrit bhaksati he enjoys
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for baksheesh

baksheesh

n.

1620s, in India, Egypt, etc., "a tip," from Persian bakhshish, literally "gift," from verb bakhshidan "to give" (also "to forgive"), from PIE root *bhag- "to share out, apportion, distribute" (see -phagous).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper