Wordsmith Talk |
About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us | |||
Register Log In Wordsmith.org Forums General Topics Weekly Themes baksheesh
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
OP I guess the expression "Buckshee" is derived from this word.
That's what the OED says. The reason I'd never heard of it before is that it is "chiefly British".
Working for tips, I began to hear baksheesh in the late 1960s in the northeastern U.S. Later (and not very much later) came lagniappe, which I understand is common in SW Louisiana and in New Orleans. In Latin America, they speak of la mordida ("the bite") when referring to unofficial pay-offs. La mordida bears a sense of institutionalized corruption unlike the others, which refer simply to "a little extra," voluntarily given. Lagniappe doesn't necessarily refer to money: it may refer to the extra donut in a "baker's dozen." I've never heard baksheesh used for anything except money - in fact, I've heard it used synonymously with "money," not necessarily extra money - but it may be that it can refer to non-monetary extras, as well.
Last edited by beck123; 03/06/10 01:45 PM.
"I don't know which is worse: ignorance or apathy. And, frankly, I don't care." - Anonymous
Moderated by Jackie
Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics Forums16Topics13,913Posts229,809Members9,187 Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members Karin, JeffMackwood, artguitar, Jim_W, Rdbuffalo
9,187 Registered Users
Who's Online Now 0 members (), 982 guests, and 1 robot. Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days) A C Bowden 17
Top Posters wwh 13,858Faldage 13,803Jackie 11,613wofahulicodoc 10,851tsuwm 10,542LukeJavan8 9,944Buffalo Shrdlu 7,210AnnaStrophic 6,511Wordwind 6,296of troy 5,400
Forum Rules · Mark All Read Contact Us · Forum Help · Wordsmith.org