noun
tilly
TIH-lee
Tilly (noun) means a small extra item thrown in free with a purchase, as a gesture of goodwill. Example: “The market trader added an extra apple as a tilly.”
noun
1
A small extra item thrown in free with a purchase, as a gesture of goodwill.
"The market trader added an extra apple as a tilly."
2
An open-backed pickup-style truck.
"One night soon after our arrival in Belgium, four of us set off to a dance in a rest centre, behind the lines, for the forces. We drove across a snowy waste in a tilly truck, singing "Lilly Marlene"."
— Once Upon a Ward: V.A.D.s' Own Stories and Pictures (1980)
"They loaded the crates onto the tilly."
How to use tilly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDepending on context, either a little freebie thrown in with a sale, or a small flatbed truck.
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Word forms
- Plural
- tillies
- Comparative
- more tilly
- Superlative
- most tilly
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The market trader added an extra apple as a _____.
Etymology
The "free extra" sense comes from Irish tuilleadh, meaning "more" or "addition".
Synonyms
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Rhymes for tilly
See all rhymes for tilly →Frequently asked questions
What does “tilly” mean?
The word “tilly” means a small extra item thrown in free with a purchase, as a gesture of goodwill. In plain terms, depending on context, either a little freebie thrown in with a sale, or a small flatbed truck.
How do you pronounce “tilly”?
“Tilly” is pronounced TIH-lee (/ˈtɪli/ in IPA).
How do you use “tilly” in a sentence?
Here is “tilly” used in a sentence: “The market trader added an extra apple as a tilly.”
What part of speech is “tilly”?
“Tilly” is a noun.
Where does the word “tilly” come from?
The word “tilly” comes from Irish. The "free extra" sense comes from Irish tuilleadh, meaning "more" or "addition".
How many meanings does “tilly” have?
“Tilly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small extra item thrown in free with a purchase, as a gesture of goodwill.
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