WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Per"qui*site
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [L. perquisitum, fr. perquisitus, p.p. of perquirere to ask for diligently; per + quaerere to seek. See Per-, and Quest.]
Definition : 1. Something gained from a place or employment over and above the ordinary salary or fixed wages for services rendered; especially, a fee allowed by law to an officer for a specific service. The pillage of a place taken by storm was regarded as the perquisite of the soldiers. Prescott. The best perquisites of a place are the advantages it gaves a man of doing good. Addison.

2. pl. (Law)

Defn: Things gotten by a man's own industry, or purchased with his own money, as opposed to things which come to him by descent. Mozley & W.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913