lagniappe
or la·gnappe
[ lan-yap, lan-yap ]
/ lænˈyæp, ˈlæn yæp /
noun
Chiefly Southern Louisiana and Southeast Texas. a small gift given with a purchase to a customer, by way of compliment or for good measure; bonus.
a gratuity or tip.
an unexpected or indirect benefit.
Nearby words
lagger, laggin, lagging, laggingly, laghouat, lagniappe, lago de nicaragua, lagomorph, lagoon, lagoon islands, lagophthalmia
Origin of lagniappe
1840–50, Americanism; < Louisiana French < American Spanish la ñapa the addition, equivalent to la feminine definite article + ñapa, variant of yapa < Quechua: that which is added
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for lagniappe
British Dictionary definitions for lagniappe
lagniappe
lagnappe
/ (lænˈjæp, ˈlænjæp) /
noun US
a small gift, esp one given to a customer who makes a purchase
something given or obtained as a gratuity or bonus
Word Origin for lagniappe
C19: Louisiana French, from American Spanish la ñapa, from Quechua yápa addition
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for lagniappe
lagniappe
"dividend, something extra," 1849, from New Orleans creole, of unknown origin though much speculated upon. Originally a bit of something given by New Orleans shopkeepers to customers. Said to be from American Spanish la ñapa "the gift." Klein says this is in turn from Quechua yapa "something added, gift."
We picked up one excellent word -- a word worth travelling to New Orleans to get; a nice, limber, expressive, handy word -- 'lagniappe.' They pronounce it lanny-yap. It is Spanish -- so they said. [Mark Twain, "Life on the Mississippi"]
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper