baksheesh

or bak·shish, bak·shis

[bak-sheesh, bak-sheesh](in the Near and Middle East)

See more synonyms for baksheesh on Thesaurus.com

noun

a tip, present, or gratuity.

verb (used with or without object)

to give a tip.

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. 2018

Examples from the Web for baksheesh

Historical Examples

Those incapables had no doubt been after David for baksheesh, and he felt just that way.
The Ship Dwellers
Albert Bigelow Paine
Still, I am sorry now I didn't contribute the baksheesh he expected.
The Ship Dwellers
Albert Bigelow Paine
The first word these loons pronounce after coming into the world must be baksheesh.
Romantic Spain
John Augustus O'Shea
The next best thing to do is to forget the wish, pay two-pence in baksheesh and ride away to get the most of a glorious view.
The Walls of Constantinople
Bernard Granville Baker
For the first two years of war he kept out of the army by means of baksheesh.
Eastern Nights - and Flights
Alan Bott

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

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

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).

baksheesh

or bak·shish, bak·shis

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}baksheesh

Examples from the Web for baksheesh

Historical Examples

Those incapables had no doubt been after David for baksheesh, and he felt just that way.

Still, I am sorry now I didn't contribute the baksheesh he expected.

The first word these loons pronounce after coming into the world must be baksheesh.

The next best thing to do is to forget the wish, pay two-pence in baksheesh and ride away to get the most of a glorious view.

For the first two years of war he kept out of the army by means of baksheesh.

baksheesh

backsheesh

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for baksheesh

n.

Origin of baksheesh