86. Cumshaw

Looking for some gift ideas to say thank you to your delivery person? You’re in luck, cause this week Emily and Kyle are discussing the meaning and origin of the word cumshaw.

Our hosts spend some time getting to know Hokkien, a Chinese language variety from the area around Xiamen. They chat about what makes this variety different from others like Mandarin and Cantonese, and its beginnings as a trade language in the South China Sea.

They then dive into how this Chinese word of thanks came to English through a sailing context. Emily and Kyle dive into the history of trade in Chinese ports like Guangzhou. They discuss the importance of giving your ship captain a little gift, especially if they’re carrying something less than legal. And they also mention this word’s more modern usage in the U.S. Navy!