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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Chance-medley

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.

    Note: 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.

Wiktionary
chance-medley

n. 1 (context legal historical English) The killing of another in self-defence upon a sudden and unpremeditated encounter. 2 (context obsolete English) luck; chance; accident

WordNet
chance-medley

n. unpremeditated killing of a human being in self defense

Usage examples of "chance-medley".

While this was transacting upon the quarter-deck, a chance-medley fight was going on throughout the ship.