Chance-medley

Chance"-med`ley (?), n. [Chance + medley.] 1. (Law) The killing of another in self-defense upon a sudden and unpremeditated encounter. See Chaud-Medley.

☞ The term has been sometimes applied to any kind of homicide by misadventure, or to any accidental killing of a person without premeditation or evil intent, but, in strictness, is applicable to such killing as happens in defending one's self against assault. Bouvier.

2. Luck; chance; accident. Milton. Cowper.