pillion

[pil-yuhn]

noun

1. a pad or cushion attached behind a saddle, especially as a seat for a woman.

2. a pad, cushion, saddle, or the like, used as a passenger seat on a bicycle, motor scooter, etc.

3. a passenger's saddle or seat behind the driver's seat on a motorcycle.

pillion

/ ˈpɪljən /

noun

1. a seat or place behind the rider of a motorcycle, scooter, horse, etc

adverb

1. on a pillion

   to ride pillion

Word History and Origins

Origin of pillion¹

1495–1505; < Scots Gaelic pillinn or Irish pillín, diminutive of peall skin, rug blanket, MIr pell < Latin pellis skin

Word History and Origins

Origin of pillion¹

C16: from Gaelic; compare Scottish pillean, Irish pillīn couch; related to Latin pellis skin

Example Sentences

A motorcyclist and a pillion passenger have died in a crash.

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A woman, 25, who was pillion passenger on the motorcycle, was critically injured, the Met Police said.

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She also suffered injuries to her pelvis, ribs and spine in the crash, which happened as she rode pillion on partner Stephen Sharman's machine on Stafford Road.

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A pillion passenger sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was arrested after being found with a machete.

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Motorbike pillion passenger Liam Scott, 21, suffered a fatal head injury.

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