 a lagniappe ( ) is a small gift given to a customer by a merchant at the time of a purchase (such as a 13th doughnut when buying a dozen), or more broadly, "something given or obtained gratuitously or by way of good measure." the word entered english from the louisiana french adapting a quechua word brought in to new orleans by the spanish creoles. it derived from the south american spanish phrase la yapa or Ã±apa (referring to a free extra item, usually a very cheap one). the term has been traced back to the quechua word yapay ('to increase; to add'). in andean markets it is still customary to ask for a yapa (translates as "a little extra") when making a purchase. the seller usually responds by throwing in a little extra. although this is an old custom, it is still widely practiced today in louisiana. street vendors, especially vegetable vendors, are expected to throw in a few green chillies or a small bunch of cilantro with a purchase. the word is chiefly used in the gulf coast of the united states, but the concept is practiced in many places, such as the spanish-speaking world, southeast asia, north africa, rural france, australia and holland. == history of the american english word == after the spanish conquered the inca empire certain quechua words entered the spanish language. the spanish empire for a time also included louisiana so there was a spanish presence in new orleans. in his book creoles of louisiana, george washington cable comments on the effects of the spanish presence on louisiana creole french: the spanish occupation never became more than a conquest. the spanish tongue, enforced in the courts and principal public offices, never superseded the french in the mouths of the people, and left but a few words naturalized in the corrupt french of the slaves. the terrors of the calabozo, with its chains and whips and branding irons, were condensed into the french tri-syllabic calaboose; while the pleasant institution of Ã±apa -- the petty gratuity added, by the retailer, to anything bought -- grew the pleasanter, drawn out into gallicized lagnappe. though the word is included in english dictionaries it is used primarily in the region influenced by new orleans (and therefore louisiana french) culture and so may be thought of as being more cajun french or louisiana creole french than english. this is especially so since the spelling has been infl
Cultural_conventions Quechua_words_and_phrases