one-armed bandit

/ˌwʌnɑɹmd ˈbændɪt/

UK: /ˌwʌnɑːmd ˈbændɪt/

one-armed bandit

English Noun

Definition

A gaming machine having a long arm-like handle at one side that a player pulls down to make reels spin; the player wins money or tokens when certain combinations of symbols line up on these reels.

Etymology

From one-armed (“having only one arm”) + bandit (“one who robs others in a lawless area, especially as part of a group; one who cheats others”), referring to the fact that the machine is operated by a single handle, and “steals” money from losing players.