Date:  Mon, 7 Apr 1997 13:19:52 EDT
<br>From:  Larry Horn  LHORN[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]YALEVM.CIS.YALE.EDU 
<br>Subject: Re: tipping
<br>
<br>The sources I've checked don't provide any direct support for a derivation from
<br>'tipple'. The relevant noun and verb 'tip' are attested in the early 1700's,
<br>not restricted to contexts of drinking (booze), and are apparently a speciali-
<br>zation of the broader 'touch/push' group of meanings for 'tip'. What is
<br>quite clear is that there's about as much evidence for an acronymic source
<br>(To Insure Promptness, or whatever) with 'tip' as there with 'fuck' (For
<br>Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, Fornication Under Consent of the King, whatever),
<br>viz. none (see Jesse's _The F-Word_ on the latter). For some reason, these
<br>initialistic/acronymic folk-etymologies retain an appeal entirely unwarranted
<br>in any fact, leaving aside attested cases like 'ikhthys' for Jesus, Hebrew
<br>surnames like 'Katz' and 'Raschi', and a few other oldies.
<br>
<br>Larry
<br>