freeroll
n.— «About 20 people had come to play poker before 2 p.m. yesterday, attracted by its being a “freeroll” day, they said, which generally involves a tournament that is free to enter but has a cash prize donated by the host, as a way to generate interest. None would give their names.» —“New Jersey Man Is Killed in Midtown Poker Game” by Michael Wilson, Annie Correal New York Times Nov. 4, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
What’s up with ketchup? The shifting history and spelling of the name of this condiment. For centuries, ketchup was a fishy sauce originating in Asia—the tomatoes came only later! Plus, a new book shows what’s lost when a language dies: when there...
Lisa from Tabernacle, New Jersey, grew up using the term cabbage night to refer to the night before Halloween when all manner of mischief takes place. The term itself goes back to the 1860s, while the custom of pranks on October 30 is older. The...