Oct 31, 2023
Time for the new puzzler. This one was my brother's puzzler.
You could easily find the answer to this if you looked it up online. So, don't do that. That is cheating.
Here goes.
A while back, we all went out for lunch. Me, Tommy, and our producer, Dougie. It was a long day at the studio, so we went out for a bit. We finished a magnificent lunch.
So, I paid the bill and we left. When we were headed back to the studio, Tommy asked me if I left a tip for the waiter. And I said, "Yes of course. But I wonder why it is called a tip?"
So, that is the puzzler. Why is the customary practice of leaving money on the table after a meal called a 'tip'?
Good luck.
Okay answer time.
So, why is it called a 'tip' when you pay the bill and leave extra money after a meal?
What is the origin of the expression 'tip'?
And here it one theory about it. There are other theories about it, but we like this one. Tommy liked this one.
Way back in 17th century England, tavern owners used to put small wooden boxes or bowls on the tables. And on it they would write the phrase, "To Insure Promptness". So if a traveler wanted to be sure he was well served, he would put a few coins in the box in advance of service. And after many years, it was shortened to the acronym TIP.
To Insure Promptness.
