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jackpot

jack·pot [ ják pòt ] (plural jack·pots)


noun 
Definition:
 
1. cash prize: an amount of money won in a competition or lottery or as a payout from a slot machine or other kind of gambling machine

2. total amount bet on poker hands: an accumulated stake in a poker game that can be competed for only by players holding a pair of jacks or a better hand

[Late 19th century. < a pair of jacks being the least required to compete for the pot in poker]

hit the jackpot to achieve great success, especially financially

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