cumshaw


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cum·shaw

 (kŭm′shô′)
n.
A tip; a gratuity.

[Pidgin English, from Amoy kámsiā, an expression of thanks, from Middle Chinese kam´ sɦia` (also the source of Mandarin gǎnxiè) : kam´, to feel + sɦia`, to decline, excuse oneself, thank.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

cumshaw

(ˈkʌmʃɔː)
n
(used, esp formerly, by beggars in Chinese ports) a present or tip
[C19: from pidgin English, from Chinese (Amoy) kam siā, from Mandarin kan hsieh grateful thanks]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

cum•shaw

(ˈkʌm ʃɔ)

n.
a present; gratuity; tip.
[1810–20; < dial. Chinese (Xiamen) kam siā= Chinese gân xiè grateful thanks]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

cumshaw

noun
A material favor or gift, usually money, given in return for service:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
References in periodicals archive ?
From 2005 to 2008, the top four life insurance firms in Taiwan (Cathay, Nan Shan, Shin Kong, and Cumshaw Post Co.) held about 23%, 14%, 11%, and 7.5% of the overall market share, respectively.
On the other, there is no controversy regarding cumshaw, a term used in the Chinese ports to ask for a present or gratuity.
Chinese "cumshaw" is "tea money." It may be reasonable to surmise