jettison

views updated May 18 2018

jet·ti·son / ˈjetisən; -zən/ • v. [tr.] throw or drop (something) from an aircraft or ship: six aircraft jettisoned their loads in the sea. ∎ abandon or discard (someone or something that is no longer wanted): he's ready to jettison communism.• n. the action of jettisoning something.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

jettison

views updated Jun 11 2018

jettison action of throwing goods overboard. XV. — AN. getteson, OF. getaison :- L. jactātiō, -ōn-, f. jact-, jactāre; see JET2, -ATION.
Hence vb. (often fig.) XIX.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD