Step 1: Understanding the Term
"Hush money" is a term for money paid to someone to prevent them from disclosing embarrassing, incriminating, or otherwise damaging information. The money is paid to make someone "hush" or be quiet.
Step 2: Evaluating the Options
(A) Remittances: This is money sent to someone in another country, typically a family member. It is unrelated to secrecy.
(B) Interest on the Principal amount: This is a financial term related to loans or investments.
(C) Bribe paid to secure silence: This is the precise definition of hush money. It is a form of bribery where the desired outcome is silence.
(D) Money earned from playing online games: This is a source of income and has no connection to the term.
Step 3: Final Answer
The meaning of "hush money" is a bribe paid to ensure someone stays silent about something. Therefore, option (C) is the correct answer.