windfall

This term evokes the image of a sudden, effortless gain. In a financial sense, it describes a stroke of luck or an unplanned financial surge, often carrying a connotation of surprise and ease, as the recipient did not work for the money through traditional labor. In a botanical sense, it refers to the physical act of wind knocking fruit from branches. While the financial meaning is more common in modern conversation, the literal meaning remains standard in agricultural or gardening contexts.