Dictionary definition of “butter and eggs”

butter and eggs

n. an illegal lottery in which winning numbers are calculated from closing prices in butter and egg market trading. Subjects: English, Crime & Prisons, Food & Drink, Gambling

Editorial Note: Also known as the bug, numbers, and policy.

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Citations: [1932 Daily Northwestern (Oshkosh, Wisc.) (Oct. 20) “Betting Billion A Year They Are Good Guessers” (in New York City) p. 3: Americans are betting almost a billion dollars a year that they can guess…The Chicago butter and egg prices.…In some cities it is called “numbers,” in others, “policy.”…The “banker” may nominate other combination of digits and take them from the bond sales on the stock exchange, from butter and egg prices, from baseball or football scores.] [1933 Chicago Tribune (Nov. 19) “Bank’s Black Blotters Block Bold Bad Men” p. A9: Participants in gambling pools are now using figures for daily butter and egg receipts in the Chicago market.] 1947 Newark Advocate (Ohio) (June 10) “Gambling Den Found In County” p. 1: This attractive farm house…is not a “butter and egg” business. Inside was discovered the most elaborate gambling establishment ever raided in Licking county. 1949 Statesville Daily Record (N.C.) (May 31) “Statewide Butter and Egg Racket Exposed by Newspaper Reporter” (in Winston-Salem, N.C.) p. F3: He followed it by a six-city survey quoting records, officials and personal observations of the butter and egg racket. The game is a lottery played by low-income groups.…Bets are made on the butter and egg produce market quotations—small bets ranging upwards from a few cents. 1954 L.F. Amburn, Jr. Statesville Daily Record (N.C.) (Mar. 19) “Lottery Raids Pay Dividencs” p. 1: Clara K. Click, 40, of 117 Lincoln street, was arrested when lottery books, used to play the butter and eggs, were discovered in her home.

Posted 23 Jan 06 | Permalink | Tell a Friend