The Collaborative International Dictionary
Pay \Pay\, n.
Satisfaction; content.
--Chaucer.-
An equivalent or return for money due, goods purchased, or services performed; salary or wages for work or service; compensation; recompense; payment; hire; as, the pay of a clerk; the pay of a soldier.
Where only merit constant pay receives.
--Pope.There is neither pay nor plunder to be got.
--L'Estrange.Full pay, the whole amount of wages or salary; maximum pay; especially, the highest pay or allowance to civil or military officers of a certain rank, without deductions.
Half pay. See under Half.
Pay day, the day of settlement of accounts.
Pay dirt (Mining), earth which yields a profit to the miner. [Western U.S.]
Pay office, a place where payment is made.
Pay roll, a roll or list of persons entitled to payment, with the amounts due.
Pay dirt \Pay dirt\, Pay rock \Pay rock\, etc.
(Mining) Earth, rock, etc., which yields a profit to the miner. [Western U. S.]
a discovery, especially after an exploratory process, which yields a profit or sought-after benefit; -- used especially in the phrase ``to hit pay dirt''.
Wiktionary
alt. 1 (context mining English) earth which contains profitable quantities of ore. 2 (context figuratively English) A profitable area or period; success. n. 1 (context mining English) earth which contains profitable quantities of ore. 2 (context figuratively English) A profitable area or period; success.
WordNet
n. ore that yields a substantial profit to the miner
a profitable success; "the inventor worked for years before hitting pay dirt"
Usage examples of "pay dirt".
It was enough to know that that crucial hour after he had left had really been pay dirt.
The company tried boring several holes into the Water Pit, finally hitting pay dirt on August 23, 1883.
And the wrought-iron maze he had explored in the kitchen like a gold miner pawing through pay dirt was in fact a revolting clump of scars.