I. ˈje-tə-sən, -zən noun
Etymology: Middle English jetteson, from Anglo-French geteson, literally, action of throwing, from Latin jactation-, jactatio, from jactare — more at jet
Date: 15th century
: a voluntary sacrifice of cargo to lighten a ship's load in time of distress
II. transitive verb
Date: 1848
1. : to make jettison of
2. : to get rid of as superfluous or encumbering : omit or forgo as part of a plan or as the result of some other decision
must be prepared to jettison many romantic notions — Christopher Catling
3. : to drop from an aircraft or spacecraft in flight
• jet·ti·son·able -sə-nə-bəl, -zə- adjective