A windfall

Origin

Imagine a world before modern commerce, where sustenance often came directly from the land. For a medieval farmer, fruit trees were precious assets, meticulously tended. But sometimes, a sudden, fierce gust of wind would sweep through an orchard, knocking down perfectly ripened fruit prematurely. This wasn't ideal for long-term harvests, but for the local villagers, it was a sudden, unexpected bounty—free fruit, scattered across the ground, there for the taking. This 'windfall' was literally fruit that had fallen from the wind, a spontaneous gift of nature. Over time, the phrase transcended its agricultural roots, becoming a vivid metaphor for any sudden, unearned good fortune, much like that unexpected, free harvest.