Excellent etymological research! I associated zaps with nostr, and was trying to remember what I used to call zapping on SN before nostr. Honestly, I think I used "tip."

In the long run, I hope zaps goes mainstream and we don't have to explain it. Much the same way likes needs no explanation, even though it's an entirely novel use of the word.

In the mean time I'm realizing that I, too, have become so accustomed to little tips here and there in my online interactions, that I assume everyone else obviously wants their online experience to be the same. I'm reevaluating assumptions. Shockingly, it looks like we are gonna have to convince people to accept money for their thoughts and reactions online.