raffle

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: raf=fle

CIDE DICTIONARY

raffle, n. [F. rafle; faire rafle to sweep stakes, fr. rafler to carry or sweep away, rafler tout to sweep stakes; of German origin; cf. G. raffeln to snatch up, to rake. See Raff, v.].

•  A kind of lottery, in which several persons pay, in shares, the value of something put up as a stake, and then determine by chance (as by casting dice) which one of them shall become the sole possessor.  [1913 Webster]
•  A game of dice in which he who threw three alike won all the stakes.  Cotgrave.  [1913 Webster]

raffle, n. [See Raff, n. & v., and Raffle.].

 Refuse; rubbish; raff.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

raffle, v. i. 

 To engage in a raffle; as, to raffle for a watch.  [1913 Webster]

raffle, v. t. 

 To dispose of by means of a raffle; -- often followed by off; as, to raffle off a horse.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

raffle, n. & v.
--n. a fund-raising lottery with goods as prizes.
--v.tr. (often foll. by off) dispose of by means of a raffle.

raffle, n.
1 rubbish; refuse.
2 lumber; debris.

Etymology

ME, perh. f. OF ne rifle, ne rafle nothing at all

THESAURUS

raffle

bingo, call, cast lots, class lottery, cut lots, cut the cards, draft lottery, draw, draw lots, draw straws, drawing, gamble, game, grab bag, interest lottery, keno, lot, lottery, lotto, match coins, number lottery, numbers pool, play, play at dice, play the ponies, raffle off, shoot craps, speculate, sport, sweep, sweepstake, sweepstakes, tombola, tontine, toss

ROGET THESAURUS

raffle

Chance

VB chance, stand a chance, toss up, cast lots, draw lots, leave to chance, trust to chance, leave to the chapter of accidents, trust to the chapter of accidents, tempt fortune, chance it, take one's chance, take a shot at it (attempt), run the risk, run the chance, incur the risk, incur the chance, encounter the risk, encounter the chance, stand the hazard of the die, speculate, try one's luck, set on a cast, raffle, put into a lottery, buy a pig in a poke, shuffle the cards, risk, venture, hazard, stake, ante, lay, lay a wager, make a bet, wager, bet, gamble, game, play for, play at chuck farthing, chance, hap, turn up, fall to one's lot, be one's fate, stumble on light upon, take one's chance.