jetty

Where does the word "jetty" come from? It comes from Latin iactare, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).

Jetty’s story begins in Latin: iactare meant “to throw repeatedly.” To throw repeatedly, giving rise to French jeter (to throw). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as jetee. A thing thrown out, a structure projecting into water, from jeter. It reached English by 1400s as jetty. Settled as the English word for a structure projecting into water to protect a harbor. Today, jetty means a structure built out into water to protect a harbor or shoreline, or as a landing place.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient iactare "to throw repeatedly", to throw repeatedly, giving rise to French jeter (to throw).
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval jetee "a structure projecting into water", a thing thrown out, a structure projecting into water, from jeter.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s jetty "a structure projecting into water to protect a harbor or shoreline", settled as the English word for a structure projecting into water to protect a harbor.