windfall

Definition

Something that has been blown down by the wind.

Etymology

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

Example Sentences

• "The danger from windfall is greatest to trees developed in dense stands, which are tall and have slender stems, and increases with the age of the stand."
• "They couldn't reach the branches, so they ate the windfalls."
• "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."

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