Etymology

coffee money

Today it means: Loose change. Full definition →

Malay duit kopi
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The story

  1. Malay · calque ofduit kopi
  2. English todaycoffee money

A euphemism that refers to the amount of money typically enough to buy a cup of coffee. The bribe or gratuity fee sense is a calque of Malay duit kopi.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.