Date:  Tue, 8 Apr 1997 10:16:04 -0500
From:  Mark Mandel <Mark[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]DRAGONSYS.COM>
Subject: Tipping -Reply

>>> Leslie Dunkling <106407.3560[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]COMPUSERVE.COM> 0408.0620 >>>
The supposed acronymic origin of tip (in its gratuity sense) is an old
chestnut. It ranks with the `port out starboard home' explanation of posh.
As Larry Horn implies,

  fanciful nonsense is often more appealing than etymological fact.

[spacing added -- MAM]
<<<<

Has anyone ever tried to explain this general phenomenon?

    Mark A. Mandel : Senior Linguist : mark[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]dragonsys.com
  Dragon Systems, Inc. : speech recognition : +1 617 965-5200
 320 Nevada St., Newton, MA 02160, USA : http://www.dragonsys.com/
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