raffles

¹ American  

[raf-uhlz] / ˈræf əlz /

noun

(often initial capital letter)

1. a gentlemanly burglar, amateur housebreaker, or the like.

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Raffles ² American  

[raf-uhlz] / ˈræf əlz /

noun

1. Sir Thomas Stamford, 1781–1826, English colonial administrator in the East Indies.

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Raffles British  

/ ˈræfəlz /

noun

1. Sir Thomas Stamford . 1781–1826, British colonial administrator: founded Singapore (1819) as a station for the British East India Company

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Etymology

Origin of raffles

1925–30; after Raffles, hero of The Amateur Cracksman, by E. W. Hornung (1866–1921), English novelist

Example Sentences

"I don't see this becoming a trend," he said, adding house raffles were not something he had thought about when first setting up his company.

From BBC • Dec. 13, 2025

In other attempted gimmicks, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez is entering donors into raffles for Major League Soccer games or free tuition payments.

From Slate • Jul. 24, 2023

For some reason, he keeps entering raffles for travel but has not won another one since we got married.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 7, 2023

The agenda included workshops, conferences, raffles and dances.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 8, 2023

Tormented by the fear of dying without having sent Amaranta Úrsula to Brussels, he worked as he had never done, and instead of one he made three weekly raffles.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez