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 tickets are blanks. Fig. : An affair of chance.

Note: The laws of the United States and of most of the States make lotteries illegal.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)