The alt.usage.english FAQ   

• "tip"

  (Word Origins)
  
  

  
     "Tip", in the sense of "gratuity", does NOT stand for "to insure
  [i.e., ensure] politeness/promptness" or "to improve performance".
  It may derive from "tip" in the sense "to tap, to strike lightly"
  or in the sense "extremity", both of which have cognates in other
  Germanic languages.  Or it may be a shortening of "stipend".

  
  
  Source: [Mark Israel, 'Word Origins: "tip"', The alt.usage.english FAQ file,(line 4235), (29 Sept 1997)]
  
  
  
  

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