colloq. A person or thing that comes by chance; an illegitimate child.
1760. Life & Adv. of Cat, 35. He put me out to nurse … since I was a comeby-chance.
1876. Whyte-Melville, Katerfelto, xix. 213. Could it be that she already loved this come-by-chance.
1888. Elworthy, W. Somerset Word-bk., 153. Come-by-chance, a bastard. A stray pigeon who has taken up his abode with your flock is a come-by-chance. Any article found and appropriated is so called.
