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jettison

 - 3 dictionary results

jet⋅ti⋅son

  [jet-uh-suhn, -zuhn]
Use jettison in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. 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. Cards. to discard (an unwanted card or cards).
–noun
4. the act of casting goods from a vessel or aircraft to lighten or stabilize it.
5. jetsam.
Origin:
1375–1425; late ME jetteson < AF; OF getaison ≪ L jactātiōn- (s. of jactātiō) jactation

Related forms:
jet⋅ti⋅son⋅a⋅ble, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To jettison
jet·ti·son   (jět'ĭ-sən, -zən)   
tr.v.   jet·ti·soned, jet·ti·son·ing, jet·ti·sons

  1. To cast overboard or off: a ship jettisoning wastes; a pilot jettisoning aircraft fuel.

  2. Informal To discard (something) as unwanted or burdensome: jettisoned the whole marketing plan.

n.  

  1. The act of discarding or casting overboard.

  2. Jetsam.


[From Middle English jetteson, a throwing overboard of goods to lighten ship, from Anglo-Norman getteson, from Vulgar Latin *iectātiō, iectātiōn-, from *iectātus, past participle of *iectāre, to throw; see jet2.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

jettison 
1425 (n.) "act of throwing overboard," from Anglo-Fr. getteson, from O.Fr. getaison "act of throwing (goods overboard)," especially to lighten a ship in distress, from L.L. jactionem (nom. jactatio), from jactatus, pp. of jectare "toss about" (see jet (v.)). The verb is first attested 1848.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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