The practice of giving additional money to service workers for good service. Also refers to the act of tilting or causing something to fall over.
For gratuity, possibly from 17th-century thieves' cant 'tip' meaning to give or pass along, or from the practice of tipping one's hat. The tilting meaning comes from Middle English 'tippen' meaning to overturn.
Tipping culture reveals fascinating social psychology - it simultaneously rewards service while creating an awkward power dynamic where workers depend on customers' subjective generosity. The practice varies wildly across cultures: mandatory in some countries, offensive in others, showing how economic customs can be deeply cultural rather than universal.
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