flotsam

flotsam
flotsam c.1600, from Anglo-Fr. floteson, from O.Fr. flotaison "a floating," from floter "to float" (of Germanic origin; see FLOAT (Cf. float)) + -aison, from L. -ation(em). Spelled flotsen till mid-19c. when it altered, perhaps under influence of many English words in -some. In British law, flotsam are goods found floating on the sea as a consequence of a shipwreck or action of wind or waves; jetsam are things cast out of a ship in danger of being wrecked, and afterward washed ashore, or things cast ashore by the sailors. Whatever sinks is lagan. Figurative use for "odds and ends" attested by 1861.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • flotsam — flot·sam / flät səm/ n: floating wreckage of a ship or its cargo compare jetsam Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996. flotsam …   Law dictionary

  • flotsam — ► NOUN ▪ wreckage found floating on the sea. Compare with JETSAM(Cf. ↑jetsam). ● flotsam and jetsam Cf. ↑flotsam and jetsam ORIGIN Old French floteson, from floter to float …   English terms dictionary

  • flotsam — [flät′səm] n. [Anglo Fr floteson < OFr flotaison, a floating < floter, to float < MDu vloten (or OE flotian), to FLOAT] 1. the wreckage of a ship or its cargo floating at sea 2. odds and ends 3. unemployed people who drift from place to… …   English World dictionary

  • flotsam — UK [ˈflɒtsəm] / US [ˈflɑtsəm] or flotsam and jetsam UK [ˌflɒtsəm ən ˈdʒetsəm] / US [ˌflɑtsəm ən ˈdʒetsəm] noun [uncountable] 1) things that you find floating in the sea or lying on the beach, especially parts of a ship that has sunk 2) things… …   English dictionary

  • flotsam — flotsam, flotsan /flotsam/ A name for the goods which float upon the sea when cast overboard for the safety of the ship, or when a ship is sunk. Distinguished from jetsam (goods deliberately thrown over to lighten ship) and ligan …   Black's law dictionary

  • flotsam — flotsam, flotsan /flotsam/ A name for the goods which float upon the sea when cast overboard for the safety of the ship, or when a ship is sunk. Distinguished from jetsam (goods deliberately thrown over to lighten ship) and ligan …   Black's law dictionary

  • Flotsam — Flot sam, Flotson Flot son, n. [F. flotter to float. See {FFlotilla}, and cf. {Jetsam}.] (Law) Goods lost by shipwreck, and floating on the sea; in distinction from jetsam or jetson. Blackstone. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • flotsam — [n] floating debris cargo, castoffs, jetsam, junk, odds and ends, sea drift, wreckage; concepts 260,674 …   New thesaurus

  • flotsam — [[t]flɒ̱tsəm[/t]] 1) N UNCOUNT Flotsam is rubbish, for example bits of wood and plastic, that is floating on the sea or has been left by the sea on the shore. The water was full of flotsam and refuse. 2) N UNCOUNT You can use flotsam to refer to… …   English dictionary

  • flotsam — noun Etymology: Anglo French floteson, from floter to float, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English flotian to float, flota ship Date: circa 1607 1. floating wreckage of a ship or its cargo; broadly floating debris 2. a. a floating population… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”