lagniappe
UK[lænˈjæp]US[ˈlænjæp]
n
a small gift given to a customer by a merchant at the time of a purchase.
n
something given or obtained gratuitously or by way of good measure.
Etymology
The word 'lagniappe' entered English via Louisiana French, where it denoted a small bonus gift. The French term was itself borrowed from American Spanish 'la ñapa', meaning 'the gift' or 'the extra'. This Spanish phrase has its roots in Quechua 'yapa', which carries the same meaning of an addition or something given extra. The journey from a Quechua trade custom through Spanish and French colonial markets into American English encapsulates the history of cultural exchange in the Americas, transforming a specific commercial practice into a general term for a small, unexpected benefit.
Analysis
n/a
Examples
The baker always adds a cookie as a lagniappe with every loaf of bread.
Consider the detailed appendix a lagniappe to the already comprehensive report.
His witty remarks were a delightful lagniappe to an otherwise routine lecture.