Bonus

A premium or gratuity; something given free in addition to what is usual or stipulated. It is not an infrequent practise on the organization of a stock company to give to purchasers of the preferred stock as a bonus that is, without charge, a certain percentage (perhaps an equal amount) of common stock. Sometimes when a company i ues bonds it gives to purchasers a bonus in stock. In Great Britain when an extra dividend or dividend in exce of the regular dividend is declared it is called a bonus.