Raffle
['ræf(ə)l] or ['ræfl]
Definition
(noun.) a lottery in which the prizes are goods rather than money.
(verb.) dispose of in a lottery; 'We raffled off a trip to the Bahamas'.
Edited by Griffith--From WordNet
Definition
(v.) A kind of lottery, in which several persons pay, in shares, the value of something put up as a stake, and then determine by chance (as by casting dice) which one of them shall become the sole possessor.
(v.) A game of dice in which he who threw three alike won all the stakes.
(v. i.) To engage in a raffle; as, to raffle for a watch.
(v. t.) To dispose of by means of a raffle; -- often followed by off; as, to raffle off a horse.
Typist: Randall
Definition
n. lumber rubbish.
n. a kind of sale by chance or lottery in which the price is subscribed equally by all who hope to win.—v.i. to try a raffle.—n. Raff′ler.
Checker: Walter
Unserious Contents or Definition
If you dream of raffling any article, you will fall a victim to speculation. If you are at a church raffle, you will soon find that disappointment is clouding your future. For a young woman, this dream means empty expectations.
Editor: Ryan
Examples
- Why, the raffle. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- Ultimately Christian laid down his shilling, the raffle began, and the dice went round. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- On our entrance, the Duke of Devonshire presented us with tickets for a raffle. Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
- The reddleman looked grim, threw a raffle of aces, and pocketed the stakes. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- It was owing to the raffle! Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
- Going to the raffle as well as ourselves? Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- That's a pity, now, Josh, said Raffles, affecting to scratch his head and wrinkle his brows upward as if he were nonplussed. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- Raffles opened wide eyes, and gave a long whistle of surprise, before he said, Well then, I've no objection. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- No, I must say good evening, said Will, dashing up a passage which led into Lowick Gate, and almost running to get out of Raffles's reach. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- Perhaps he might deliver a different opinion, and think that Raffles was getting into a less hopeful state. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- Raffles was worse, would take hardly any food, was persistently wakeful and restlessly raving; but still not violent. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- Here Raffles again winked slowly. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- This time Raffles declined to be seen off the premises, as he expressed it--declined to quit Middlemarch under Bulstrode's eyes. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- Lyme Regis is a sort of Brighton in miniature, all bustle and confusion, assembly-rooms, donkey-riding, raffling, &c. Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
Typist: Remington