raffle

1
[ raf-uhl ]
See synonyms for raffle on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a form of lottery in which a number of persons buy one or more chances to win a prize.

verb (used with object),raf·fled, raf·fling.
  1. to dispose of by a raffle (often followed by off): to raffle off a watch.

verb (used without object),raf·fled, raf·fling.
  1. to take part in a raffle.

Origin of raffle

1
1350–1400; Middle English rafle dice game <Middle French, derivative of rafler to snatch; cf. raff

Other words from raffle

  • raffler, noun
  • un·raf·fled, adjective

Other definitions for raffle (2 of 2)

raffle2
[ raf-uhl ]

noun
  1. Nautical. a tangle, as of ropes, canvas, etc.

Origin of raffle

2
First recorded in 1790–1800; raff + -le

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use raffle in a sentence

  • The “raffling,” combined with the “rum”—which was now also meted out—produced for some time a noisy excitement.

    Ran Away to Sea | Mayne Reid
  • But even though he marked it down to a dime, none would buy, so he announced his intention of raffling it off.

    Tom Slade | Percy K. Fitzhugh

British Dictionary definitions for raffle

raffle

/ (ˈræfəl) /


noun
    • a lottery in which the prizes are goods rather than money

    • (as modifier): a raffle ticket

verb
  1. (tr often foll by off) to dispose of (goods) in a raffle

Origin of raffle

1
C14 (a dice game): from Old French, of obscure origin

Derived forms of raffle

  • raffler, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012