Word of the Day

: March 5, 2016

jettison

verb JET-uh-sun

What It Means

1 : to throw (goods) overboard to lighten a ship or aircraft in distress

2 : discard

jettison in Context

As the boat began to take on water, the pirates argued over whether they should jettison some of the heavy, stolen loot.

"… [Wayne Pathman, chair of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce] says banks have not yet jettisoned the 30-year mortgage, but 'it's out there,' and he expects them to 'start looking at how they give mortgages and protect their collateral' as sea levels rise." — Nina Burleigh, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2016

Did You Know?

Jettison comes from the Anglo-French noun geteson, meaning "action of throwing," and is ultimately from the Latin verb jactare, meaning "to throw." The noun jettison ("a voluntary sacrifice of cargo to lighten a ship's load in time of distress") entered English in the 15th century; the verb has been with us since the 19th century. The noun is also the source of the word jetsam ("jettisoned goods"), which is often paired with flotsam ("floating wreckage"). These days you don't have to be on a sinking ship to jettison something. In addition to literally "throwing overboard," jettison means simply "to get rid of." You might jettison some old magazines that are cluttering your house, or you might make a plan but jettison it at the last minute.