jetsam

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈdʒɛtsəm/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈdʒɛtsəm/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling( jet′səm)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
jet•sam /ˈdʒɛtsəm/USA pronunciation   n. [uncountable]
  1. Nautical, Naval Termscargo, supplies, goods, etc., from a boat that are thrown overboard deliberately to lighten it or make it stable in an emergency.
Compare flotsam.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
jet•sam  ( jet′səm),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. Nautical, Naval Termsgoods cast overboard deliberately, as to lighten a vessel or improve its stability in an emergency, which sink where jettisoned or are washed ashore.
Also, jet′som. Cf. flotsam, lagan. 
  • alteration of jetson, syncopated variant of jettison 1560–70

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
jetsam, jetsom / ˈdʒɛtsəm/
  1. that portion of the equipment or cargo of a vessel thrown overboard to lighten her, as during a storm
    Compare flotsam1, lagan
Etymology: 16th Century: shortened from jettison
'jetsam' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
beachcomber - flotsam - jettison - lagan

Forum discussions with the word(s) "jetsam" in the title:


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