windfall

Etymology

From Middle English windfal, wyndfall, equivalent to wind + fall. Cognate with Middle High German wintval, wintfal, German Windfall.

noun

1. Something that has been blown down by the wind.
2. A fruit that has fallen from a tree naturally, as from wind.
   They couldn't reach the branches, so they ate the windfalls.
3. (figurative) A sudden large benefit; especially, a sudden or unexpected large amount of money, as from lottery or sweepstakes winnings or an unexpected inheritance or gift.
   Businessmen rushed to get every last commodity aboard a departing ship, hoping for a windfall once the world realized these would be the very last sacks of flour available, thus driving up prices. 2004, Chris Wallace, Character: Profiles in Presidential Courage