Graft
Etymology
The corruption sense arose in American English in the late 19th century, its origin uncertain — possibly from British slang "graft" meaning hard work, or from the older horticultural "graft" (to insert a shoot into another plant).
That horticultural "graft" comes via Greek "graphein" (to write), from the stylus-like shape of the cut scion — a separate root, now sitting oddly beside the corruption sense.
noun · /GRAFT/
The use of a public position for private gain, especially through bribery or corrupt dealing.
What it names
A crisp word for corruption where power quietly pays itself — kickbacks, rigged contracts, favors for cash.
Example
The investigation exposed years of graft — city contracts steered to the mayor’s cousins.
Related idea
Bribery is a single corrupt exchange; graft is the broader, systemic skimming that a position makes possible.
noun · /GRAFT/
A piece of living tissue or plant joined onto a host so that it grows as part of it; also the act of doing this.
What it names
a skin graft, a bypass graft, a grafted fruit tree
Example
The surgeon used a skin graft to cover the burn.
Related idea
A wholly different word from the corruption sense — the two only happen to be spelled alike.