jetsam

or jet·som

[ jet-suhm ]

noun

1. goods cast overboard deliberately, as to lighten a vessel or improve its stability in an emergency, which sink where jettisoned or are washed ashore.

jetsam

/ ˈdʒɛtsəm /

noun

1. See flotsam, lagan
   that portion of the equipment or cargo of a vessel thrown overboard to lighten her, as during a storm Compare flotsam lagan
2. See flotsam
   another word for flotsam

Word History and Origins

Origin of jetsam¹

1560–70; alteration of jetson, syncopated variant of jettison

Word History and Origins

Origin of jetsam¹

C16: shortened from jettison

Idioms and Phrases

see flotsam and jetsam .

Example Sentences

After being rescued from the ocean several times Buster spent the rest of the afternoon  collecting flotsam and jetsam.

From The Daily Beast

We were in hopes they would look upon our boat as flotsam and jetsam, of which there was more or less strewn upon the beach.

From Project Gutenberg

The flotsam and jetsam of too many sentimental stories and fairy tales were afloat in the child's active mind.

From Project Gutenberg

He gathered it in and swept his tiny flash around in search of other jetsam from his tool kit.

From Project Gutenberg

He might just as well, he might much better, slump down in a sodden heap amid the rest of the jetsam.

From Project Gutenberg

No, there had been no wreck, yet all about her lay the wave-sodden flotsam and jetsam of many past disasters.

From Project Gutenberg