hush money
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noun
a bribe to keep someone silent about something, especially to keep the receiver from exposing a scandal.
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Question 1 of 7
Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?
First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.
First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.
First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT Origin of hush money
First recorded in 1700–10
Words nearby hush money
hush, hushaby, hushed, hush-hush, Hu Shih, hush money, hush puppy, hush up, husk, husking, husking bee
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for hush money
British Dictionary definitions for hush money
hush money
noun
slang money given to a person, such as an accomplice, to ensure that something is kept secret
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
Idioms and Phrases with hush money
hush money
A bribe paid to keep something secret, as in No amount of hush money will keep that scandal from coming out. [c. 1700]
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.