jettison

[ jet-uh-suhn, -zuhn ]

/ ˈdʒɛt ə sən, -zən /

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Definition of jettison

verb (used with object)

to cast (goods) overboard in order to lighten a vessel or aircraft or to improve its stability in an emergency.

to throw off (something) as an obstacle or burden; discard.

Cards. to discard (an unwanted card or cards).

noun

the act of casting goods from a vessel or aircraft to lighten or stabilize it.

jetsam.

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Question 1 of 6

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Origin of jettison

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

OTHER WORDS FROM jettison

jet·ti·son·a·ble, adjective

Words nearby jettison

jet propulsion, jetsam, jet set, Jet Ski, jet stream, jettison, jet-to-let, jetton, jetty, jet wash, Jetway

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use jettison in a sentence

Jettison your lawyers as a source of prison-yard guidance, Abramoff said.
Abramoff’s Advice for Virginia’s New Jailhouse Guv|Tim Mak, Jackie Kucinich|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But they also bequeathed to us a founding racism that we have found it almost impossible to jettison.
The Invention of the Ego in Martin Luther’s Defiance|Thomas Cahill|November 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The other companies to jettison Deen were more interested in their image than the bottom line.
Racism Is a Tough Sell: The Real Reason Everyone Dumped Paula Deen|Daniel Gross|June 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Nor does he believe it will force the company to jettison full-time workers.
Can This Taco Save America?|Daniel Gross|March 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST

It will jettison the reactionary messages that alienated so many persuadable voters in 2012.
Commentary's Symposium on the Future of Conservatism|David Frum|January 2, 2013|DAILY BEAST
"We'll jettison what freight proves an embarrassment," this astute individual advised.
Captain Scraggs|Peter B. Kyne
No occasion to jettison any of our cargo yet, however useless it may be.
The Life of a Celebrated Buccaneer|Richard Clynton
He unclamped his safety harness and stumbled to the jettison bin, holding a hand over his mouth.
Spillthrough|Daniel F. Galouye
And if the swell got too strong for her we had to jettison the top tiers of cotton balespitch em overboard, you see.
Carolyn of the Corners|Ruth Belmore Endicott
You could drink a fifth, jettison the bottle through the trash lock, and sober up before you were needed again.
Death of a Spaceman|Walter M. Miller

British Dictionary definitions for jettison

jettison

/ (ˈdʒɛtɪsən, -zən) /

verb -sons, -soning or -soned (tr)

to throw away; abandonto jettison old clothes

to throw overboard

noun

another word for jetsam (def. 1)

Word Origin for jettison

C15: from Old French getaison, ultimately from Latin jactātiō a tossing about; see jactation

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

jettison

Definition of jettison

Origin of jettison

OTHER WORDS FROM jettison

Words nearby jettison

Words related to jettison

How to use jettison in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for jettison

Word Origin for jettison