cumshaw

[ kuhm-shaw ]

/ ˈkʌm ʃɔ /

a present; gratuity; tip.

Origin of cumshaw

1810–20; < dialectal Chinese (Xiamen) kam siā, equivalent to Chinese gân xiè grateful thanks

It was the first rational word since I had begun to dig, and it acted on Cumshaw like a douche of cold water.

The Lost Valley |J. M. Walsh
"I'll remember that," Moira said, and she favored Cumshaw with a little smile of gratitude.

The Lost Valley |J. M. Walsh
Perhaps he fancied that some similar plan to his own was evolving in Cumshaw's brain.

The Lost Valley |J. M. Walsh
Just as they entered the hut Cumshaw paused for a moment and ran his eye over the scene.

The Lost Valley |J. M. Walsh

"It's out of the question getting them out the way we got them in," Cumshaw said.

The Lost Valley |J. M. Walsh

cumshaw

/ (ˈkʌmʃɔː) /

(used, esp formerly, by beggars in Chinese ports) a present or tip

C19: from pidgin English, from Chinese (Amoy) kam siā, from Mandarin kan hsieh grateful thanks