raffles

¹

[ raf-uhlz ]

noun

, (often initial capital letter)

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

Raffles

²

[ raf-uhlz ]

noun

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

Raffles

/ ˈræfəlz /

noun

1. RafflesSir Thomas Stamford17811826MBritishPOLITICS: colonial administrator Sir Thomas Stamford . 1781–1826, British colonial administrator: founded Singapore (1819) as a station for the British East India Company

Word History and Origins

Origin of raffles¹

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

Example Sentences

“Don’t budge from your budget. Don’t have a wedding that will put you into debt. DIY as much as you can. Don’t buy a real cake. Go to the bridal shows and put your name down for the raffles! Also, make sure your non-negotiables are met. I wouldn’t necessarily say we regret choosing our venue but I do wish the reception went to a later time.”

From Los Angeles Times

They were able to place bets on fights and participate in a raffles, with a set of gaffs offered as the prize.

From Los Angeles Times

Westminster Development Services is best known for redeveloping the site of the former Old War Office building on Whitehall as a Raffles hotel complex.

From BBC

While I wasn’t especially fond of this week’s “Top Chef” because of an unfortunate boot, some lackluster food, some odd alumni decisions, and my favorite cheftstant having to jet to urgent care for a deep cut, the episode did indeed elucidate two fascinating Wisconsin food customs that were, up until this week, entirely foreign to me: fish boils and meat raffles.

From Salon

Jockey aiming for National double after winning this year's Irish race on Easter Monday with Intense Raffles.

From BBC