jettison

Where does the word "jettison" come from? It comes from Latin iactare, passing through Latin and Anglo-French before entering English (1500s).

Jettison’s story begins in Latin: iactare meant “to throw repeatedly.” The root of 'jet', 'eject' and 'project'. Within Latin, it grew into iactatio by ancient. A throwing, from iactare. From there it passed into Anglo-French as getteson by medieval. Carried into legal French for throwing cargo overboard to lighten a ship. It reached English by 1500s as jettison. Settled as the English word for throwing something away, especially to lighten a load. Today, jettison means to throw something overboard or discard it, especially to lighten a load.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient iactare "to throw repeatedly", the root of 'jet', 'eject' and 'project'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient iactatio "a throwing", a throwing, from iactare.
3. Stage 3 · Anglo-French · medieval getteson "throwing cargo overboard to lighten a ship", carried into legal French for throwing cargo overboard to lighten a ship.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1500s jettison "to throw something away, especially to lighten a load", settled as the English word for throwing something away, especially to lighten a load.