bonanza
[ buh-nan-zuh, boh- ]
/ bəˈnæn zə, boʊ- /
noun
a rich mass of ore, as found in mining.
a source of great and sudden wealth or luck; a spectacular windfall: The play proved to be a bonanza for its lucky backers.
Origin of bonanza
1835–45,
Americanism; < Spanish: literally, smooth sea (hence, good luck, rich vein of ore), nasalized variant of Medieval Latin
bonacia, equivalent to Latin
bon(us) good + (
mal)acia calm sea < Greek
malakía softness (
malak(ós) soft +
-ia
-ia)
Words nearby bonanza
bona vacantia,
bonaci,
bonadoxin,
bonaire,
bonampak,
bonanza,
bonanza creek,
bonaparte,
bonapartism,
bonapartist,
bonar law
Example sentences from the Web for bonanza
British Dictionary definitions for bonanza
bonanza
/ (bəˈnænzə) /
noun
a source, usually sudden and unexpected, of luck or wealth
US and Canadian
a mine or vein rich in ore
Word Origin for bonanza
C19: from Spanish, literally: calm sea, hence, good luck, from Medieval Latin
bonacia, from Latin
bonus good +
malacia dead calm, from Greek
malakia softness