DIVIDEND

1. interest paid on stocks or shares based on retained corporate earnings or earned surplus over a specified time such as quarterly, yearly, etc. 2. a payment made to creditors in a bankruptcy case known as a liquidation dividend. 3. a share of the profits of an insurance company distributed to policy holders.

anything received as a bonus, reward, or in addition to or beyond what is expected. —History of Man Glossary (app. 11.7.90)