■ noun
1》 an act, statement, or gift intended to show gratitude, respect, or admiration.
↘something resulting from and indicating the worth of something else: his victory was a ~ to his persistence.
2》 historical payment made periodically by one state or ruler to another, especially as a sign of dependence.
3》 historical a proportion of ore or its equivalent, paid to a miner for work, or to the owner or lessor of a mine.
Origin
ME: from L. tributum , neut. past participle (used asnoun) of tribuere 'assign' (orig. 'divide between tribes'), from tribus 'tribe'.