Show A windfall in olden times many people held land on condition that the trees were specially preserved for building the wooden ships which were then used in the navy says london answers magazine when a tree was blown down or fell due in any way to the action of the wind it became the property of the holder or owner of the land and was known as a windfall the word has now a much wider use especially in connection with fruit which may fall to the ground when ripening many fruit growers sell the crop on the trees and the windfalls wind falls are regarded as their own since these must be picked up at once as they begin to rot very quickly any unexpected gift or legacy of money etc may also be called a windfall |