pilon

American  

[pee-lohn] / piˈloʊn /

noun

Southwestern U.S. (chiefly Texas).

1. something extra; lagniappe.

---

Usage

What does pilon mean? Pilon is an informal regional term that means a little something extra—a bonus. It’s primarily used in Texas and some parts of the Southwestern U.S.Pilon typically refers to something additional given to a customer for free when they’re making a purchase. This is often done as a nice gesture on the part of the seller, kind of like when you get 13 items for the prize of 12 in a “baker’s dozen.”The regional term lagniappe is used to mean about the same thing in Southern Louisiana and Southeast Texas.Example: The fruit vendor at the farmer’s market said he’d throw in a carton of strawberries as a pilon since I’m such a loyal customer.

Etymology

Origin of pilon

1880–85; < Mexican Spanish pilón literally, trough, mortar, Spanish: derivative of pila basin, trough < Latin pīla mortar

Example Sentences

“We walked all night without stopping until now,” said Pilón, who is praying for the health of her baby son.

From Seattle Times

Evelyn Pilón, 20, came from Chiconcuac, a town on the outskirts of Mexico City famous for its knit goods and artisanry.

From Seattle Times

‘The Longest Race’ by Kara Goucher In this memoir, co-written with sports writer Mary Pilon, the Olympic distance runner Kara Goucher recounts the journey from her childhood in Duluth, Minn., to running at the University of Colorado to the Nike Oregon Project, where she trained as a professional under coach Alberto Salazar.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr. Pilon’s lawyer, Barry A. Wolf, could not be immediately reached on Wednesday evening for comment, but in a sentencing memorandum earlier this month, he told the court that Mr. Pilon was “deeply remorseful and embarrassed by his actions.”

From New York Times

District Judge Thomas Ludington also sentenced Kenneth Pilon, 62, of Saginaw to one-year of supervised release.

From Seattle Times