windfall
English edit
Etymology edit
From Middle English windfal, wyndfall, equivalent to wind + fall. Cognate with Middle High German wintval, wintfal, German Windfall.
Pronunciation edit
- (Received Pronunciation) enPR: wĭndʹfôl, IPA(key): /ˈwɪnd.fɔːl/
Audio (UK) (file)
- (General American) enPR: wĭndʹfôl, IPA(key): /ˈwɪnd.fɔl/
- (cot–caught merger) enPR: wĭndʹfäl, IPA(key): /ˈwɪnd.fɑl/
- (General Australian) IPA(key): /ˈwɪnd.fo(ː)l/
Noun edit
windfall (plural windfalls)
- Something that has been blown down by the wind.
- A fruit that has fallen from a tree naturally, as from wind.
- They couldn't reach the branches, so they ate the windfalls.
- (figuratively) 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.
- 2004, Chris Wallace, Character: Profiles in Presidential Courage:
- 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.
Derived terms edit
Translations edit
something that has been blown down by the wind
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fruit fallen off a tree naturally
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sudden large benefit
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.