tipper

Tipper is a term with several senses in English. In transportation, a tipper is a heavy goods vehicle equipped with a hydraulically operated bed that can be raised to discharge its load. The mechanism allows materials such as sand, gravel, soil, or rubble to be deposited quickly at a construction, mining, or agricultural site. Tippers are common worldwide and are often called dump trucks or tip trucks in some regions.

In social or service contexts, a tipper is a person who leaves a tip for service workers. Tipping practices vary by country and industry, governing how much money is offered and when. A tipper may be a customer who voluntarily gives gratuity to waitstaff, bar staff, drivers, hotel staff, or others who provide a service.

Etymology: the word tipper derives from tip, meaning to tilt or discharge; in the vehicle sense, the bed tilts to unload its cargo. Because tipper can refer to both a vehicle and a person, context is important to determine the intended meaning.