hush money

a bribe to keep someone silent about something, especially to keep the receiver from exposing a scandal.

Origin of hush money

First recorded in 1700–10

To allow Ada to be made a bribe and hush-money of is not the way to bring it out.

Bleak House |Charles Dickens
At such a moment then, called our ladies-legatees, clamorous for hush-money.

Heart |Martin Farquhar Tupper
How often it has succeeded, grabbed its hush-money and retreated, of course I don't know.

"Persons Unknown" |Virginia Tracy
The "hush-money" extorted by Davila was therefore some $5,000.

The Spanish Pioneers |Charles F. Lummis

The payment of two oxen was hush-money for the life of a man.

Inquiries into Human Faculty and Its Development |Francis Galton

hush money

slang money given to a person, such as an accomplice, to ensure that something is kept secret

hush money

A bribe paid to keep something secret, as in No amount of hush money will keep that scandal from coming out. [c. 1700]