raffle

¹

[ raf-uhl ]

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.

raffle

²

[ raf-uhl ]

noun

1. rubbish.
2. Nautical. a tangle, as of ropes, canvas, etc.

raffle

/ ˈræfəl /

noun

1. 1. a lottery in which the prizes are goods rather than money
   2. ( as modifier )

      a raffle ticket

verb

1. troften foll byoff to dispose of (goods) in a raffle

Derived Forms

• ˈraffler, noun

Other Words From

• raffler noun
• un·raffled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of raffle¹

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

Origin of raffle²

First recorded in 1790–1800; raff + -le

Word History and Origins

Origin of raffle¹

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

Example Sentences

To give back and support their community—Hushin’s third pillar—the team holds a raffle each year and then uses the money to support a cause they believe in.

From Outside Online

Maryland is offering state employees $100, while Lancaster, California, is trying to encourage teens to get inoculated by entering their names in a raffle for college scholarships worth up to $10,000.

From Quartz

People who get vaccinated can enter their names in a raffle, with the victor getting to choose from a range of rides that includes a Chevrolet Camaro and a Nissan Altima.

From Washington Post

People who signed up for the raffle had to attest to being less than six and a half feet tall and under 250 pounds.

From MIT Technology Review

Inspiration 4’s other two travelers will be selected through a raffle and an entrepreneurial contest.

From MIT Technology Review

The winners will be drawn on January 8, which makes the raffle tickets the perfect Christmas gift.

From The Daily Beast

Engineers now field questions on Reddit and laboratories raffle off multiday tours to Twitter followers.

From The Daily Beast

And when I took a ticket for a raffle, I hardly counted upon winning this particularly gaudy sofa-cushion.

From Project Gutenberg

When I came to the library, the master of the raffle told me it was against all rule to refund a subscription.'

From Project Gutenberg

Ultimately Christian laid down his shilling, the raffle began, and the dice went round.

From Project Gutenberg

These are the class of gambling practices of which the church bazaar or raffle may be taken as the type.

From Project Gutenberg

Raffle, raf′l, n. a kind of sale by chance or lottery in which the price is subscribed equally by all who hope to win.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• betting
• game of chance
• sweepstake