Jetsam Meaning in English
word
Definition
Jetsam refers to items or cargo that have been thrown off a ship, usually to lighten the load in an emergency, and end up floating in the sea. It can also describe any discarded things found in the water.
Usage & Nuances
"Jetsam" is maritime and formal; pairs with "flotsam" ('flotsam and jetsam'). Used literally for sea debris or metaphorically for discarded items in general. Not used for trash on land. Don't confuse with "jettison" (the verb form).
Example Sentences
After the storm, jetsam covered the beach.
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The sailors threw jetsam overboard to save the ship.
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We saw pieces of jetsam floating by the pier.
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Beachcombers often find strange jetsam washed ashore.
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That old buoy among the jetsam must have quite a story.
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Sometimes, a beach is littered with both flotsam and jetsam after a busy shipping season.
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