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: literally, “smooth sea” (hence, “good luck, rich vein of ore”), nasalized variant of Medieval Latin bonacia, equivalent to Latin bon(us) “good” + (mal)acia “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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