colloq. [of unknown etymology. Possibly of Eng. dialectal origin; cf. ‘fluke, a guess’ (Whitby Gloss., 1876).] In Billiard-playing, A successful stroke made by accident or chance. Hence gen. a lucky stroke, an unexpected success; a piece of good luck, esp. in phrase by a fluke. A fluke of wind: a chance breeze.
1857. N. & Q., Ser. II. IV. 208/1. In playing at billiards…. Another term is, ‘He made a flook (or fluke).’
1861. H. Kingsley, Ravenshoe, v. That was rather a fluke, was it not?
1868. Yates, The Rock Ahead, I. I. vi. 234. To secure Plater Dobbs’ position would be to land a greater stake than could be gained by the most unexpected fluke at trente et quarante.
1882. Bain, J. S. Mill, 194. The transfer of power has gone on, as is usual, through the scramble of parties, by flukes and leaps in the dark, these warnings are not thrown away.
1889. H. F. Wood, Englishman of Rue Caïn, x. Whose runaway horse he had stopped on morning, by the merest fluke.
Hence Flukeless a., without a fluke.
1895. Westm. Gaz., 5 Jan., 7/2. It was a faultless, flukeless performance on a standard table.
