Lotteries

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Lottery \Lot"ter*y\, n.; pl. {Lotteries}. [Lot + -ery, as in
     brewery, bindery.]
     1. A scheme for the distribution of prizes by lot or chance;
        esp., a gaming scheme in which one or more tickets bearing
        particular numbers draw prizes, and the rest of the
        tickets are blanks. Fig.: An affair of chance.


        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The laws of the United States and of most of the States
           make private lotteries illegal, except in certain
           circumstances for charitable institutions; however,
           many of the states now conduct lotteries tehmselves as
           a revenue source.
           [1913 Webster +PJC]
  
     2. Allotment; thing allotted. [Obs.] --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]