jackpot
UK[ˈdʒækpɒt]US[ˈdʒækpɑːt]
n
The largest prize in a game or lottery, especially one that accumulates until it is won.
n
A large cash prize or other major success.
Etymology
The term "jackpot" originated in 19th-century poker. It referred to a game rule where the pot (the collected stakes) could only be opened by a player holding a pair of jacks or better. This literal "pot for jacks" created a scenario where the prize money could accumulate to a significant size. Over time, the term shed its specific card-game context and generalized to mean any large, accumulating prize, especially in gambling and lotteries. Its logic evolved from a specific condition for winning a pool of money to the abstract concept of the ultimate, top-tier reward itself.
Analysis
The word is a compound noun formed from the given name "Jack" and the noun "pot". "Jack" is a common English given name, used here generically to mean "a man". "Pot" is from Old English "pott", meaning a container, especially for holding money.
Examples
She won the multi-million dollar jackpot in the national lottery.
Hitting the jackpot with his first startup was a life-changing event.
The slot machine's jackpot had been growing for weeks without a winner.