butter and eggs
n.— «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.» —“Betting Billion A Year They Are Good Guessers” in New York City Daily Northwestern (Oshkosh, Wisc.) Oct. 20, 1932. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
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