Baksheesh Bak Sheesh Noun Payment Tip Bribe Persian Bakhshish

"A certain favoritism, even in the absence of baksheesh-pocketing headwaiters, is indispensable to restaurants that expect to maintain a steady clientele -- especially in New York, where every other big shot seems to demand the 'best' table and, instead of something fabulous to eat, a custom-baked potato." - Thomas McNamee; The Joy of Cooking; The New York Times Book Review; Jun 23, 2002.

"About 130 officials were fired for taking baksheesh, and the volume of tariff revenue that actually reached state coffers jumped by almost 50% in two years." - Maturing Mozambique; The Economist (London, UK); Dec 4, 1999.