windfall
/ˈwɪn(d)fɔːl
/noun
1An apple or other fruit blown down from a tree or bush by the wind.We ate fruit from the trees or windfalls without washing them and ate carrots pulled from the ground (after we'd dusted the dirt off with our none-too-clean hands)....
- We filled the tub with ripe fruit, and tonight it will join our windfalls in an apple and blackberry crumble.
- Any windfalls make great apple pies and chutneys.
2A large amount of money that is won or received unexpectedly: members are to get an average £520 cash windfall for voting ‘yes’ to the merger...
- In so doing, they will reap windfall profits from a property redevelopment scheme.
- A struggling cricket club has been given a new lease of life following an unexpected cash windfall.
- Striding ahead of the rest has landed a Lancaster theatre with a huge cash windfall.
Synonyms
bonanza, jackpot, pennies from heaven, unexpected gain;
piece/stroke of good luck, godsend, manna from heaven