gravy
UK: ˈɡreɪvi | US: ˈɡreɪvi
n. a sauce made from the juices of cooked meat, often thickened with flour
n. (informal) unexpected or unearned benefit or profit
The word "gravy" traces back to Old French "grainé," meaning "spiced broth," derived from "grain" (spice). It entered Middle English as "gravey" or "grave," referring to meat juices. Over time, the "-y" suffix solidified its noun form, and the meaning expanded to include the modern concept of a thickened meat sauce. The informal sense of "unearned benefit" emerged in 19th-century American slang, likening extra profit to the rich, desirable addition of gravy to a meal.
The roast chicken was served with a generous portion of gravy.
She thickened the gravy with a bit of cornstarch.
(Informal) Winning the lottery was pure gravy after his promotion.
The chef drizzled gravy over the mashed potatoes.
His bonus felt like gravy on top of an already successful year.