fluke

Definition

A lucky or improbable occurrence that could probably never be repeated.

Etymology

Unknown, perhaps dialectal. It seems to have originally referred to a lucky shot at billiards. Possibly connected to sense 3, referring to whales' use of flukes to move rapidly. Possibly derived from German Glück (“luck, good fortune, happiness”).

Example Sentences

• "We've classified by a fluke; actually, the first goal was just a total fluke."
• "“[…] That's the first time in the history of Bierce's Cove that two men made that jump on the same sea. And all the risk was yours, coming last.” “It was a fluke,” Billy insisted."
• "Three of the best hitters in the Eastern retired on nine strikes! That was no fluke."