Question of the Day - 29 July 2023

While I agree that insurance is paid ahead of time, and therefore don’t believe the acronym theory, many years ago I had heard that it is actually a four letter acronym, which means: To Insure Proper Service.

A customer's response to a waiter refusing to accept an insultingly small gratuity.

Since the linguistic origins of the word predate Thieves' Cant by several centuries, and its roots are in Swedish and Middle Norse (and "tap" was evidently a cognate with "tip"), I speculate that it meant an addition to an already agreed-upon payment for goods or services, tendered in appreciation for the provider. In other words, not just to a waiter--to anyone who completes a transaction.

And of course, we all know of the ancient practice of "cow tipping," where we give the cow a buck or two in appreciation for her milk.

I happen to be a bit of an etymology buff. One thing I've learned is that when you hear a "cute" origin for a word it's almost always wrong.  The term is "folk etymology".  Fits with the whole idea beloved by investors and gamblers - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn't! By the way, if you're interested in such things the now dormant, but still fascinating site worldwidewords.org is a great place to go for the origins of English words and phrases.  The entry on "tip" is similar to what's given above with Kevin's comments, too.

"To insure promptness" is more familiar today versus the other sources cited.  The OP's server friend and probably most servers know their tips are surely tied to the quality of their service, including friendliness, accuracy, helpfulness in deciding, etc.  "Promptness"...not so much but that too.

I think of 'tokes' as tips in table games, but tips in meal service, housekeeping, doormen, taxi drivers, and other reasons just to say thanks. 

Good question, interesting answers.

Candy

I'm lost here. If you want to make the case for "to insure promptness," the tip would have to be paid up front as a form of "insurance." The word "ensure" means to make certain that something is the case. Ensure is a better fit.

"Insure" seems like a real reach here and not proper usage.

I agree with Robert, a lot of people confuse the words "ensure" and "insure" because they sound the same. Since a tip is usually given after the service is rendered then the word "insure" is not correct, you can't insure something after the fact. The expectation of a tip reward to be given after the service is done, like good service at a restaurant, means that "ensure" would be the proper word unless you do the tip ahead of time which usually is not done. This means that the explanation of "to ensure proper service" would be the right phrase and the acronym would be "TEPS", not "TIPS". But that isn't the case so the explanation for the acronym is false. Over the years people have come up with various thoughts when asked about it, that why we have various explanations. Everyone knows what a tip is, but the origin is murky.

That first tip on a drink insures the server will be looking to see if your glass is empty. Otherwise, you may be in for a long wait.

The words are so different, it didn't really register that people confuse them. But I'm an old English major, so maybe it's just me. Somebody should have run it by Jean Scott (English teacher, as I recall).

Think of them this way "Ensure" is the mega-calorie meal supplement sold in cans to keep you alive. If they named the stuff "Insure," nobody would buy it. Has a bad vibe for oldsters.

When I was a kid I was told that a certain word stood for "Fornicate Under Consent of King" since one needed a license to do that in olden days.  We all knew that was wrong too.

Life (i)nsurance, paid before the (i)nsured dies to (e)nsure somebody gets paid at your death.

Automobile (i)nsurance:  You are betting your car will be wrecked or damaged enough to need repair.  The (i)nsurance company is betting you will be accident-free and live long enough to make many premium payments, (e)nsuring the company's pot grows large enough to pay all their (i)nsured what they have to pay out.

The BJ dealer's first card is an Ace.  You are offered the opportunity to buy (i)nsurance against his 2nd card giving him a blackjack. If you buy (i)insurance you are (e)nsuring some return should that happen. 

"I" words, nouns; but the effect is to (E)nsure (verb) that money is paid to your beneficiary at your death; that money is paid to repair or replace your car, etc.

But, you tip the matre'd to (e)nsure better seating at the concert or restaurant, which may or may not work to your satisfaction!  LOL

Candy