pillion

1 of 2

noun

pil·​lion ˈpil-yən 

1

a

: a light saddle for women consisting chiefly of a cushion

b

: a pad or cushion put on behind a man's saddle chiefly for a woman to ride on

2

chiefly British : a motorcycle or bicycle saddle for a passenger

pillion

2 of 2

adverb

chiefly British

: on or as if on a pillion

ride pillion

Examples of pillion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The authenticity of the helmet will carry the day regardless of whatever format it might be presented in, because it has been screen-matched to scenes in the movie, including the iconic scenes of Jack Nicholson riding pillion to Fonda wearing a football helmet. —Mike Hanlon, New Atlas, 17 Dec. 2024

There will be a pillion seat available as an add-on. —New Atlas, 5 Nov. 2024

Get Citation Request Reprint Permissions At nine every morning, Sana dons her burqa and rides pillion on her father’s scooter. —Ira Trivedi, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2013

See your dealer for frame sliders, pillion seat cowl, Akrapovic slip-on performance exhaust, tank bag, and lower engine cowl. —Joe Michaud, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2021

Passenger accommodations have been made more comfortable with a wider and larger pillion perch but riding two-up will be intimate. —Joe Michaud, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Dec. 2020

The central seating position stays, but the T.50S loses one of the flanking passenger seats; there will only be room for a single brave pillion on the left. —Mike Duff, Car and Driver, 3 Sep. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Scots Gaelic or Irish; Scottish Gaelic pillean, diminutive of peall covering, couch; Irish pillín, diminutive of peall covering, couch

First Known Use

Noun

1503, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

1852, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

pillion

noun

pil·​lion

ˈpil-yən

1

: a cushion or pad placed behind a saddle for an extra rider

2

: a saddle for a passenger on a motorcycle or bicycle