receipt

From Middle English receipt, receyt, receite, recorded since c. 1386 as "statement of ingredients in a potion or medicine," from Anglo-Norman or Old Northern French receite (“receipt, recipe”) (1304), altered (by influence of receit (“he receives”), from Latin recipit) from Old French recete, from Latin receptus, perfect passive participle of recipiō, itself from re- (“back”) + capiō (“I take”). The unpronounced p was later inserted to make the word appear closer to its Latin root. Doublet of recept and recipe. False cognate of Persian رسید (resid) (whence Urdu رسید (rasīd)).

• IPA^(key): /ɹɪˈsiːt/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -iːt

receipt (countable and uncountable, plural receipts)

1. The act of receiving, or the fact of having been received.

   A balance payable on receipt of the goods.

   • c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :

     Your Grace shall understand that at the receipt of your letter I am very sick

2. (obsolete) The fact of having received a blow, injury etc.
   • 1470–1485 (date produced), Thomas Malory, “Capitulum xvi”, in [Le Morte Darthur], book VI, by William Caxton], published 31 July 1485, →OCLC; republished as H Oskar Sommer, editor, Le Morte Darthur , London: David Nutt, , 1889, →OCLC:

     And therewith Sir Launcelot gate all his armoure as well as he myght and put hit upon hym for drede of more resseite […].

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

3. (in the plural) A quantity or amount received; takings.

   This weekend's receipts alone cover our costs to mount the production!

4. A written acknowledgment that a specified article or sum of money has been received.
5. (usually in the plural) (A piece of) evidence, documentation, etc. to prove one's past actions, accomplishments, etc.
   • 2020, “Reunion Part 1”, in The Real Housewives of Atlanta‎, season 12, episode 24:

     So, Andy, if you ask me nicely, I might produce a receipt that is my marriage certificate.

6. (Internet slang, usually in the plural, by extension) (A piece of) evidence (e.g. documentation or screen captures) of past wrongdoing.
   • 2020 December 1, Lindsey Wisniewski, “Darius Slay's Wikipedia page edited to claim DK Metcalf as his father”, in NBC Sports:

     "Oh yes, the Internet trolls went there, and we've got the receipts".

7. (archaic in New England and rural US since end of 20th century, elsewhere since middle of 20th century)^[1][2] A recipe, instructions, prescription.
   • 1650, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica: , 2nd edition, London: A Miller, for Edw Dod and Nath Ekins, , →OCLC:

     She had a receipt to make white hair black.

   • 1766, Oliver Goldsmith, chapter 4, in The Vicar of Wakefield:

     Nor were we without guests: sometimes farmer Flamborough, our talkative neighbour, and often the blind piper, would pay us a visit, and taste our gooseberry wine; for the making of which we had lost neither the receipt nor the reputation.

   • 1863, Sheridan Le Fanu, The House by the Churchyard:

     Have you never eaten them, either preserved or candied […] if you will allow me, Sir, I shall be very happy to send the receipt to your housekeeper.

8. (obsolete) A receptacle.
9. (obsolete) A revenue office.
10. (obsolete) Reception, as an act of hospitality.
    • 1614–1615, Homer, “(please specify the book number)”, in Geo Chapman, transl., Homer’s Odysses. , London: Rich Field , for Nathaniell Butter, published 1615, →OCLC; republished in The Odysseys of Homer, , volume (please specify the book number), London: John Russell Smith, , 1857, →OCLC:

      thy kind receipt of me

      The spelling has been modernized.

11. (obsolete) Capability of receiving; capacity.
    • 1644, John Evelyn, diary entry 21 October, 1644:

      It has become a place of great receipt.

12. (obsolete) A recess; a retired place.

• → Swahili: resiti
• → Yoruba: rìsíìtì

• docket

receipt (third-person singular simple present receipts, present participle receipting, simple past and past participle receipted)

1. To give or write a receipt (for something).

   to receipt delivered goods

2. To put a receipt on, as by writing or stamping; to mark a bill as having been paid.

   to receipt a bill

• rcpt
• sales slip

• picrete