bonsella · noun — in a transaction, something extra on the side. It carries an Arena rating of 1601, earned across 80 head-to-head judged battles.
Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, bonsella ranks #837 of 17,163 for Funniest Words, #2,550 of 17,126 for Most Satisfying to Say, #2,904 of 17,140 for Most Whimsical Words, #4,441 of 17,143 for Best Fossil-Poetry Words.
Why “bonsella” is a great word
BONSELLA — [Noun] A small extra gift, tip, or gratuity given in a transaction or as a token of thanks. Borrowed from Afrikaans 'bonsela', from Xhosa 'bansela' (meaning "showing thanks with a gift"), related to Zulu 'umbhanselo' (a "tip"). First attested in English in 1898. Unlike a "bribe," which is a secret, corrupting influence, or a "bonus," a formal, contractual reward, a bonsella is an open, informal flourish of goodwill. It is the extra plum a vendor tucks into your bag, the unexpected coin returned with your change, or the cool drink offered on a hot verandah after a long negotiation—a minor surplus that briefly bends the hard arithmetic of exchange toward human warmth.
❧ Written by Lexicurio’s AI
Etymology
Borrowed from Afrikaans bonsela, from Xhosa bansela meaning "showing thanks with a gift", related to Zulu umbhanselo a "tip".
noun
- In a transaction, something extra on the side.
- A tip or gratuity.
- A handout.
- A bribe.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Words closest in meaning
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