bonanza

[ buh-nan-zuh, boh- ]
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noun
  1. a rich mass of ore, as found in mining.

  2. a source of great and sudden wealth or luck; a spectacular windfall: The play proved to be a bonanza for its lucky backers.

Origin of bonanza

1
An Americanism first recorded in 1835–45; from Spanish: “calm sea, prosperity, abundance of minerals,” nasalized variant of Medieval Latin bonacia, alteration (with influence from Latin bonus “good,” possibly to avoid confusion with malus “bad”) of Latin malacia “calm sea,” from Greek malakía “softness” (malak(ós) “soft” + -ia -ia)

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British Dictionary definitions for bonanza

bonanza

/ (bəˈnænzə) /


noun
  1. a source, usually sudden and unexpected, of luck or wealth

  2. US and Canadian a mine or vein rich in ore

Origin of bonanza

1
C19: from Spanish, literally: calm sea, hence, good luck, from Medieval Latin bonacia, from Latin bonus good + malacia dead calm, from Greek malakia softness

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