tip

{{11}}tip (n.) "end, point, top," early 13c., from M.L.G. or M.Du. tip "utmost point, extremity, tip" (Cf. Ger. zipfel, a dim. formation); perhaps cognate with O.E. tæppa "stopper" (see TAP (Cf. tap) (n.)), from P.Gmc. *tupp- "upper extremity." Tip-top is from 1702.

{{12}}tip (v.¹) "to slope, overturn," c.1300, possibly from Scandinavian, or a special use of TIP (Cf. tip) (n.). Intransitive sense of "fall over" is recorded from 1520s. Related: Tipped; tipping. Tipping point attested by 1972.

{{12}}tip (v.²) "give a small present of money to," c.1600, "to give, hand, pass," originally thieves' cant, perhaps from TIP (Cf. tip) (v.³) "to tap." The meaning "give a gratuity to" is first attested 1706. The noun in this sense is from 1755; the meaning "piece of confidential information" is from 1845; the verb in this sense is from 1883; tipster first recorded 1862.

{{13}}tip (v.³) "light, sharp blow or tap," mid-15c., possibly from Low Ger. tippen "to poke, touch lightly," related to M.L.G. tip "end, point," and thus connected to TIP (Cf. tip) (n.); or else connected with TAP (Cf. tap) (v.) "to strike lightly." The noun in this sense is attested from 1560s.