pillion

UK: /ˈpɪljən/ US: /ˈpɪljən/ ,(pil′yən)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

pil•lion /ˈpɪlyən/   n. [countable]

1. a pad or cushion attached behind the saddle of a horse, esp. as a seat for a woman.
2. Transport a pad, cushion, or saddle used as a passenger seat on a bicycle, motorcycle, etc.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pil•lion  (pil′yən), n. 

1. a pad or cushion attached behind a saddle, esp. as a seat for a woman.
2. Transport a pad, cushion, saddle, or the like, used as a passenger seat on a bicycle, motor scooter, etc.
3. Transport a passenger's saddle or seat behind the driver's seat on a motorcycle.

• Latin pellis skin
• Scots Gaelic pillinn or Irish pillín, diminutive of peall skin, rug blanket, Middle Irish pell
• 1495–1505

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

pillion / ˈpɪljən/ noun

1. a seat or place behind the rider of a motorcycle, scooter, horse, etc

adverb

1. on a pillion: to ride pillion

Etymology: 16th Century: from Gaelic; compare Scottish pillean, Irish pillīn couch; related to Latin pellis skin