from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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 the
tickets are blanks. Fig.: An affair of chance.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The laws of the United States and of most of the States
make private lotteries illegal, except in certain
circumstances for charitable institutions; however,
many of the states now conduct lotteries tehmselves as
a revenue source.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
2. Allotment; thing allotted. [Obs.] --Shak.
[1913 Webster]