: payment (such as a tip or bribe) to expedite service
Did you know?
British subjects traveling abroad in the 17th century likely picked up baksheesh in Asia, where they would have heard the term used to mean "gratuity, a present of money, tip"—a meaning they directly adopted. Etymologically speaking, baksheesh is from Persian bakhshīsh, which is also the source of the word buckshee, meaning "something extra obtained free," "extra rations," or "windfall, gratuity." Buckshee never made it across the pond to the U.S., and is strictly used in British English.
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebIn Cairo baksheesh is the simplest way to cut through the airport’s tangle of red tape.The Economist, 29 June 2019 Mr. Trump was a chieftain demonstrating his potency with a flourish of baksheesh. James Poniewozik, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2016
Word History
Etymology
Persian bakhshīsh, from bakhshīdan to give; akin to Greek phagein to eat, Sanskrit bhajati he allots