Money given as a tip, bribe, or gift in South Asian and Middle Eastern contexts, often given for services rendered or to gain favor.
From Persian 'bakhshish,' derived from the root 'bakhsh' (to give or grant). It entered English during colonial India and is widely used throughout South Asia and the Middle East.
Bakshaish reveals how different cultures have different rules about giving money—what's considered a generous tip in one place might be seen as a bribe in another, and this one word captures that fascinating cultural gray zone.
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