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

Fortune laughed along with him—he won at all sorts of things, not only cards but raffles and games of chance.

From The Daily Beast

As little as these raffles cost for campaigns to put on, they cost even less money for people to enter.

From The Daily Beast

These raffles are an attempt to pump up the lagging numbers of small donors at low cost.

From The Daily Beast

Thus, he has amped up the number of raffles and added celebrities to the mix.

From The Daily Beast

She called that night, and two days later was installed in the Van Raffles's kitchen.

From Project Gutenberg

The same “Raffles” afterwards turned up at Newport, where the girls for several weeks led a life of thrilling interest.

From Project Gutenberg

What is the discovery of the Boy Raffles compared with your bringing to light the family history of poor little Eunice!

From Project Gutenberg

Raffles, wheels, and rings were employed to extract coins from the under-zealous.

From Project Gutenberg

Norman, on returning to the fancy fair, found the world in all the ardour of raffles.

From Project Gutenberg