Forms: see WIND sb.1 and FALL sb.1; also 5 wynfall, 6 wyndefale, wind faulle. [perh. of foreign origin; cf. MHG. wintval (G. windfall): see WIND sb.1, FALL sb.1]
1. Something blown down by the wind, or the fall of something so blown down: a. a tree or branch, or a number of trees or branches; spec. (chiefly U.S.) a heap or tract of fallen trees blown down by a tornado. Also in fig. context.
1464. Rolls of Parlt., V. 540/2. Trees Boghes and Woode called Wyndfalles.
a. 1552. Leland, Itin. (1769), V. 91. How or when thes Trees cam doune other be Cutting or Wind Faulle no Manne ther can telle.
1582. Stanyhurst, Æneis, II. (Arb.), 53. Downe tears yt wyndfals, and thick woods sturdelye tumbleth.
1602. in G. P. Scrope, Castle Combe (1852), 334. Les mortuos arbores, Anglicè the starveling trees and wyndfalls.
1625. Bacon, Ess., Greatness Kingd. (Arb.), 479. The Spartans when they did spread, and their Boughs were becommen too great, for their Stem, they became a Windfall vpon the suddaine.
1664. Evelyn, Sylva, xxxii. 109. That no unnecessary Imbezelment be made by pretences or Repair of Paling, Lodges, Browse for Deer, &c., Windfalls, Root-falls.
1772. Forster, in Phil. Trans., LXII. 376. They do not burrow under ground, but live under windfalls and roots of trees.
1784. Belknap, in Belknap Papers (1877), II. 177. We kept one man before, with an ax, to cut away windfalls.
1830. Galt, Lawrie T., III. v. Through the windfalls and the openings of the settlement, the rising sun was beginning to silver the leaves.
1866. R. D. Craig, Trees & Woods, 123. If the windfall be of trees which are not timber in their nature.
1872. Builder, 7 Dec., 964/2. The village constable charged her with picking up a few rotten windfalls from the trees.
b. fruit from a tree or bush (rarely flowers).
a. 1592. Greene, Orpharion (1599), 49. If Roses be not gathered in the bud, they either wither or proue windfalls.
1604. N. F., Fruiterers Secrets, 12. They which fall before the time of gathering, as wind-falles.
1661. M. Stevenson, Twelve Moneths, 42. The wind begins to bluster among the Apples , and the wind-falls are gathered to fill the Pies for the Houshold.
1705. E. Ward, Hud. Rediv., II. 17. The grizly Boar is hunting round; To see what Windfals may be found.
1768. Pennant, Brit. Zool., I. 42. They will reject the fruit that has lain but a few hours on the ground, and continue on the watch for a fresh wind-fall.
1802. W. Forsyth, Fruit Trees, vii. 99. When the men numbered the Pears, there was near a barrowful of wind-falls at the bottom of the old tree.
1880. Jefferies, Gt. Estate, x. 197. Heaps of the windfalls collected there to wait for the cider-mill.
2. fig. A casual or unexpected acquisition or advantage.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 321 b. After beeyng come to a good wyndefall of inheritaunce.
1603. Holland, Plutarchs Mor., 1237. This man who otherwise before-time was but poore and needy, by these windfalles and unexpected cheats became very wealthy.
1647. N. Bacon, Disc. Govt. Eng., I. xvi. 50. Where ever neighbouring Princes of their own Nation watched for the windfals of Crowns.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Wind-fall, some Estate or Profit unexpectedly come to one.
1802. Maria Edgeworth, Moral T., Forester, xix. Where he kept little windfalls, that came to him by the negligence of customers loose silver, odd gloves, &c.
1822. Hazlitt, Table-t., Ser. II. iv. 70. These and many more wind-falls of character he gave us in thought, word, and action.
1897. Mrs. Oliphant, Blackw. & Sons, xix. II. 256. Mr. Langford was a most unusual windfall to drop thus casually into the new concern.
3. attrib. (from 1): That is a windfall; blown down by the wind: = next. Also fig. (from 2): Casual, chance.
1465. Marg. Paston, in P. Lett., II. 176. Ther is wynfall wod at the maner that is of noo gret valewe.
1589. Shuttleworths Acc. (Chetham Soc.), 93. For barke of a wyndfolle trie at Smytheles vjd.
1594. Marlowe & Nashe, Dido, I. You shall haue leaues and windfall bowes enow.
1762. in Sixth Rep. Dep. Kpr., App. II. 132. The Wood called Browsings, Windfall Wood, and Dead Wood.
1845. S. Judd, Margaret, II. i. All wind-fall comers here seem to be without names.
1860. All Year Round, No. 74. 560. The windfall fruit in his uncles garden.
1882. Besant, All Sorts, xii. Early August apples, and windfall pears.