I. ˈrafəl noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English rafle, from Middle French
1.
a. : a game with three dice in which the winner of the stakes is the player who throws all three alike or the highest pair if no triplet is thrown
b. : any three of a kind in chuck-a-luck with the banker taking all bets not on triplets
2. : a lottery in which each participant buys a ticket for an article put up as a prize with the winner being determined by a random drawing
selling tickets for a raffle on a new car
II. verb
( raffled ; raffled ; raffling -f(ə)liŋ ; raffles )
intransitive verb
: to engage in a raffle
raffle for a watch
transitive verb
: to dispose of by means of a raffle — used often with off
raffled off a sewing machine at the bazaar
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: probably from French rafle act of snatching, sweeping, from Middle French rafle, raffe, from Middle High German raffen to snatch; akin to Old English hreppan to touch, Old Norse hreppa to catch, receive, Old English hearpe harp — more at harp
1. : rabble , riffraff
2. : refuse , rubbish ; specifically : a jumble or tangle of nautical material (as cordage or spars)
her decks forward covered with raffle — W.C.Russell
IV. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: probably alteration of ruffle (I)
: serrate
raffle a leaf
V. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: alteration of ravel (I)
dialect Britain : entangle