Etymology From Middle English rafle, from Old French rafle, raffle (“dice game", also "plundering”), from rafler (“to snatch, seize, carry off”), from Frankish *raffolōn, from Proto-Germanic *hrapōną, *hrēpōną (“to scratch, touch, pluck out, snatch”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kreb(h)-, *(s)kerb(h)- (“to turn, bend, shrink”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to turn, bend”). Cognate with Middle Dutch raffel (“dice game”), German raffen (“to snatch away, sweep off”), Old English hreppan (“to touch, treat, attack”).
1
A drawing, often held as a fundraiser, in which tickets or chances are sold to win a prize.
He entered a raffle to win a lifetime supply of toothpaste, but he did not win.
The raffle was a big success—too big, in fact.1953 August 6, Jet, volume 4, Johnson Publishing Company, page 22:
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Obsolete A game of dice in which the player who throws three of the same number wins all the stakes.
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LawPhilippines The system by which cases are assigned to judges in multi-sala courts.
Etymology From Middle English rafle, from Old French rafle, raffle (“dice game", also "plundering”), from rafler (“to snatch, seize, carry off”), from Frankish *raffolōn, from Proto-Germanic *hrapōną, *hrēpōną (“to scratch, touch, pluck out, snatch”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kreb(h)-, *(s)kerb(h)- (“to turn, bend, shrink”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to turn, bend”). Cognate with Middle Dutch raffel (“dice game”), German raffen (“to snatch away, sweep off”), Old English hreppan (“to touch, treat, attack”).
1
Often, With off To award something by means of a raffle or random drawing.