Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A tip; a gratuity.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A present of any kind; a gift or douceur; bakshish.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- transitive verb To give or make a present to.
- noun A present or bonus; -- originally applied to that paid on ships which entered the port of Canton.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A
gratuity ortip as thanks for a service - verb To give or make a present to.
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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Even then he had the impudence to ask me for a "cumshaw" (tip), and in order that he might not lose face among the little crowd which had collected at the outer gateway, he only laughed as he rubbed his head and listened to a tremendous dressing-down delivered by the three of us.
A Tour in Mongolia 1920
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"The good doctor is in it strictly for the old cumshaw."
Tek Lab Shatner, William 1991
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Two centuries of survival had taught him that a bribe must be offered as gently and as indirectly as a gallant suggestion is made to a proud lady; in a very few minutes he came to the glum conclusion that civic virtue and public honesty could be run into the ground-the functionaries at Goddard Field seemed utterly innocent of the very notion of cumshaw, squeeze, or the lubricating effect of money in routine transactions.
The Past Through Tomorrow Heinlein, Robert A. 1967
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The concessionaires pay their fare and squeeze whatever cumshaw they can out of the women themselves and the miners or ranchers to whom their contracts are assigned.
Podkayne Of Mars Heinlein, Robert A. 1963
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Two centuries of survival had taught him that a bribe must be offered as gently and as indirectly as a gallant suggestion is made to a proud lady; in a very few minutes he came to the glum conclusion that civic virtue and public honesty could be run into the ground-the functionaries at Goddard Field seemed utterly innocent of the very notion of cumshaw, squeeze, or the lubricating effect of money in routine transactions.
Methuselah's Children Heinlein, Robert A. 1958
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In very many cases they do not even know how to mount, but finding ponies so cheap, or, better still, getting a discarded racer as a cumshaw, they take to riding as naturally as if to the manner born, so that there are but few residents of either sex who cannot ride, and China ponies consequently hold a place in the estimation of foreigners which is altogether denied them by the natives.
Life and sport in China Second Edition Oliver George Ready
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This the mafoo does with great pleasure, as, apart from the keen interest he takes in racing -- all Chinese being inveterate gamblers -- it is an understood thing that he will receive a good cumshaw from his master for each race that his stable wins.
Life and sport in China Second Edition Oliver George Ready
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"You wanchee cumshaw?" she asked, handing the furs to the Chinaman to be wrapped.
Triple Spies 1918
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"Present for Missy; cumshaw," says the pleasant voice, and what can you do?
Peking Dust Ellen Newbold La Motte 1917
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"Amelican lady you say down-stair, she buy heap pearls, so I bring Missy cumshaw."
Peking Dust Ellen Newbold La Motte 1917
john commented on the word cumshaw
Oh, madmouth, thanks for this.
Tell your waiter you're gonna give them a great big cumshaw, you're likely to get a tureen dumped in your lap. Accidentally, of course.
September 20, 2009
madmouth commented on the word cumshaw
heh. I'll try my luck with wanky young Vancouver waiters
September 21, 2009
jmjarmstrong commented on the word cumshaw
JM asked this waiter fella if he expected a cumshaw and got a punch in the nose!!
February 1, 2010