tombola

raffle

noun tohm-bo-LAH Rare

Origin: From Italian tombola (a tumbling drum used for lottery draws).

Usage Note

Tombola specifically refers to a raffle where prizes are allocated by drawing numbered tickets from a drum or box, common at school fêtes, charity events, and village fairs. It is slightly more specific than loterie (lottery), which can be any prize draw. The word came into French from Italian in the 19th century.

Examples

"Elle a gagné un livre à la tombola."

Natural Translation

She won a book in the raffle.

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