ETYM French bribe a lump of bread, scraps, leavings of meals (that are generally given to a beggar), Late Lat. briba scrap of bread; cf. Old Fren. briber, brifer, to eat gluttonously, to beg, and Old High Germ. bilibi food.
Payment made to a person in a position of trust to corrupt his judgment; SYN. payoff.