fluke
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
At billiards, playing for one thing and getting another. Hence, generally what one gets accidentally, as an unexpected advantage, "more by luck than judgment."
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “fluke” mean?
At billiards, playing for one thing and getting another. Hence, generally what one gets accidentally, as an unexpected advantage, "more by luck than judgment."
Is “fluke” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.