- jet
- {{11}}jet (n.1) "stream of water," 1690s, from Fr. jet, from jeter (see JET (Cf. jet) (v.)). Sense of "spout or nozzle for emitting water, gas, fuel, etc." is from 1825. Hence jet propulsion (1867) and the noun meaning "airplane driven by jet propulsion" (1944, from jet engine, 1943). The first one to be in service was the German Messerschmitt Me 262. Jet stream is from 1947. Jet set first attested 1951, slightly before jet commuter plane flights began. Jet age is attested from 1952.{{12}}jet (n.2) "deep black lignite," mid-14c., from Anglo-Fr. geet, O.Fr. jaiet "jet, lignite" (12c.), from L. gagates, from Gk. gagates lithos "stone of Gages," town and river in Lycia. As "a deep black color," also as an adjective, attested from mid-15c.{{12}}jet (v.) early 15c., "to prance, strut, swagger," from M.Fr. jeter "to throw, thrust," from L.L. iectare, abstracted from deiectare, proiectare, etc., in place of L. iactare "toss about," frequentative of iacere "to throw, cast," from PIE root *ye- "to do" (Cf. Gk. iemi, ienai "to send, throw;" Hitt. ijami "I make"). Meaning "to sprout or spurt forth" is from 1690s. Related: Jetted; jetting.
Etymology dictionary. 2014.