jettison

UK: /ˈdʒɛtɪzən/, /ˈdʒɛtɪsən/

US: /ˈdʒɛtəsən, -zən/

US: ( jet′ə sən, -zən)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

jet•ti•son /ˈdʒɛtəsən, -zən/   v. [~ + object]

1. Nautical, Naval Terms to throw (cargo, supplies, etc.) overboard from a boat or aircraft to lighten it or make it stable in an emergency:
   The crew jettisoned some of the cargo as the plane lost altitude.
2. to throw off (something) that seems to be an obstacle or burden;
   discard:
   We quickly jettisoned our idea as impractical.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

jet•ti•son  ( jet′ə sən, -zən), v.t. 

1. Nautical, Naval Terms to cast (goods) overboard in order to lighten a vessel or aircraft or to improve its stability in an emergency.
2. to throw off (something) as an obstacle or burden;
   discard.
3. Games [Cards.] to discard (an unwanted card or cards).

n. 

4. Nautical, Naval Terms the act of casting goods from a vessel or aircraft to lighten or stabilize it.
5. Nautical, Naval Terms jetsam.

• Anglo-French; Old French getaison Latin jactātiōn- (stem of jactātiō) jactation
• late Middle English jetteson 1375–1425

jet′ti•son•a•ble, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

jettison / ˈdʒɛtɪs^ən -z^ən/ verb ( -sons, -soning, -soned)(transitive)

1. to throw away; abandon: to jettison old clothes
2. to throw overboard

noun

1. another word for jetsam1

Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French getaison, ultimately from Latin jactātiō a tossing about; see jactation