pilon

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.

The first records of the word pilon in English come from the 1880s. It comes from the Mexican Spanish word pilón, which is literally translated as “trough” or “mortar,” from the Spanish pila, “basin.” It’s not entirely clear how the word came to refer to a bonus or extra item.

The word is sometimes spelled pilón in English (with the accent mark over the o).

What are some other forms related to pilon?

• pilón (alternate spelling, reflecting its origin in Spanish)

What are some synonyms for pilon?

• bonus
• lagniappe

What are some words that often get used in discussing pilon?

• extra
• buy
• purchase
• item
• free

Pilon is very rarely used outside of Texas and other parts of the Southwest, and even in those regions it’s not all that commonly used.

Slate Presents Lexicon Valley: LinguaFile II – I know a lagniappe as a pilón. #SanAntonio http://t.co/K0CYnpPIoa

— This Guy (@ze_martino) September 11, 2014

This is a Piloń… Basically an Extra or a "bonus" so not my present 🎁 but an extra lol

My… https://t.co/3hIceKHKDj

— Rene Valdez (@rvaldez1708) July 15, 2016

I count myself fortunate to have at the #coyota epicenter of the universe: Coyotas "Doña Coyo" of Villa de Seris in #Hermosillo, where they still give you a "pilón" – similar to a baker's dozen – the extra one thrown in w/ the purchase of a package or two fresh from the oven. pic.twitter.com/FQ5BHVsBO7

— Alex La Pierre (@AlexLaPierre8) November 1, 2020

Which of the following things could be considered a pilon?

A. a free piece of candy included with a purchase
B. a 13th doughnut included for the price of 12
C. Extra firewood included with an order at no extra cost
D. all of the above