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English Lexicon

Baksheesh

/ˈbæk.ʃiːʃ/
nounCEFR C1 (Advanced)Top #8500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A tip, gratuity, or small sum of money given for services rendered, particularly common in parts of the Middle East and South Asia.

    "He handed a small baksheesh to the hotel porter for carrying his heavy bags."
  2. 2

    A bribe or payment made to expedite a bureaucratic process or secure a favor.

    "Delays at the border were easily avoided with a modest baksheesh."
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Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum

Synonyms (3)
Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the Persian word 'bakhshīsh' (بخشش), meaning 'gift' or 'donation', stemming from the verb 'bakhshīdan' (to give or bestow). The term entered the English lexicon in the 19th century through travel writing and colonial contact with the Middle East, initially denoting a tip, gratuity, or charitable alms, and occasionally carrying connotations of a bribe.

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