1. Southern U.S. present given to customer: a small present given by a store to a customer who has just purchased something
2. Southern U.S. unexpected bonus: an unexpected bonus or extra
[Mid-19th century. Via Louisiana French< American Spanish la ñapa "the gift" < Quechua yapay "give more"]
Regional History
Lagniappe is primarily a Louisiana French term, although it is derived from American Spanish and Quechua. Although it has scattered usage to the east and west, it is most common in the New Orleans area, and across Lower Mississippi and East Texas.
