▪ I. jetty, n.
(ˈdʒɛtɪ)
Forms: α. 5 get(t)ey, gette(e, gete(e, getty, 6 git(t)ie, 6–7 gettie. β. 5–6 iette, 7–9 jettee, (8 -ée, 8–9 jetée). γ. 6 iettye, 6–7 -ie, 7– jetty. See also jutty.
[a. OF. getee, jetee the action of throwing, a thrown out or projecting part of a building (1392 in Godef.), a structure of wood or stone made to straighten the bed of a stream, or to protect the entrance of a harbour (1450 in Godef. Compl.), subst. use of fem. of pa. pple. of jeter to throw: see jet v.2 From the 18th c. sometimes treated as French and written with -ée.]
1. a. A mole, pier, or the like, constructed at the entrance of a harbour, or running out into the sea or a lake, so as to defend the harbour or coast; a similar structure running into a river so as to divert the current from a threatened part of the bank; an outwork of piles or timber protecting a pier, a starling. b. A projecting part of a wharf; a landing-pier, a timber pier of slight construction.
| α 1412–20 Lydg. Chron. Troy ii. xxi. (MS. Digby 230) lf. 99/1 He vnwarly smet vpon the londe On the getees [MS. Digby 232 Gettys] and þe drye sonde þat hise shipes sheuered alle asoundre. 1450 Rolls Parlt. V. 187/1 In makyng and repairyng of a Getey, in defensyng of the seid Towne of Melcombe ayenst the flowyng of the See. 1541 Act 33 Hen. VIII, c. 33 The maintenance..of the..clowes sloweses gettiez gutters goottes and other fortrasses. |
| β 1478 W. Botoner Itin. (Nasmith 1778) 125 Mem. from Pensance to Seynt Yves jette 6 myle. 1713 Steele Englishm. No. 31 Two Peer Heads, commonly called the Jettées. 1772 Hutton Bridges 95 Jettee, the border made around..a pier, being the same with Sterling. Ibid. 99 To surround a stone pier with a sterling or jettee. 1791 R. Mylne Rep. Thames & Isis 52 There should be several Jettees thrown up, to confine the Stream, where it spreads too wide. 1804 Burgomasters' Petit. in Allnutt Improv. Navig. Thames (1805) 10 Such Jettees or Weir Hedges create very rapid and dangerous Currents. 1887 J. Ball Nat. in S. Amer. 267 Until the jetée..should be finished. |
| γ 1692 Ray Dissol. World (1732) 221 There were found Jettys, as they call them to keep up the old River-Bank. 1755 Robertson in Phil. Trans. XLIX. 353 Near the borders of the dock, bason, and jetties. 1867 Herschel Fam. Lect. Sc., Volcanoes 38 Three thousand people had taken refuge on a new stone quay or jetty just completed at great expense. 1875 J. H. Bennet Winter Medit. ii. xi. 337 A small and secure harbour, but so narrowed by the jetty that..the entrance is..difficult. |
c. transf. and fig.
| 1587 Golding De Mornay viii. (1617) 112 [They] did serue rather for a Banke or Iettie against the ouerflowing of the Germanes. 1833 J. Hodgson in J. Raine Mem. (1858) II. 314 Jetties or binks of hard rock here and there protrude from the line of the perpendicular scars. |
† 2. A projecting part of a building; esp. an overhanging upper storey. Obs.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 192/1 Getee of a solere (K., H., P. gete), techa, procer. 1462 in C. Welch Tower Bridge (1894) 108 Large gettes hangeing over the strete there. 1598 Florio, Barbacane,..an outnooke or corner standing out of a house, a iettie. 1657 Howell Londinop. 393 They [Wardmote Inquest] are to inquire..if any Porch, Pent-house, or Jetty be too low, in letting of Passengers that ride, or Carts. 1664 Evelyn tr. Freart's Archit. 137 Such monstrous jetties and excessive Superstructures as we many times find under Balconies. 1677 Boston Rec. (1881) VII. 109 The widdow Walker hath set vp 4 posts vpon the towne land to support the Gettie of her house. |
| transf. 1615 Crooke Body of Man 433 The round head they call in Greeke στρογγύλον because it hath no προβολή or ietty eyther in the forehead or in the nowle. |
† 3. A bulwark or bastion. Obs.
| 1550 Edw. VI Lit. Rem., Jrnl. (Roxb.) 307 At the west gitie [of Cales] there should bee another gittie which should defend the vitaylers of the towne..frome shott from the sandhills. 1736 T. Prince New Eng. Chronol. an. 1622, Made four bulwarks or jetties, whence we can defend the whole town. 1867 R. Palmer Life Philip Howard 52 Henry VI granted them land..to build a tower and jettee. |
4. attrib. and Comb., as jetty-end; jetty-head (see quot. 1769); † jetty-wise adv., in the manner of a jetty or projection.
| 1667 C. Merret in Phil. Trans. II. 465 The Garret⁓windows are Jetty-wise. 1769 Falconer Dict. Marine (1789), Jetty-head, a name..given, in the royal dock-yards, to that part of a wharf which projects beyond the rest; but more particularly the front of a wharf, whose side forms one of the cheeks of a dry or wet dock. 1884 Stevenson Lett., To C. Monkhouse 16 Mar. (1899) I. 311, I at the jetty end, and one or two of my bold blades keeping the crowd at bay. |
▪ II. jetty, a.1
(ˈdʒɛtɪ)
Also 5 geaty, 7 ieaty, jettie.
[f. jet n.1 + -y.]
1. Of the colour of jet; jet-black.
| 1586 Marlowe 1st Pt. Tamburl. iv. i, His..ietty feathers menace death and hell. 1607 T. Walkington Opt. Glass Ep. to Rdr. 4 Venus had her mole..Cynthia her spots, the Swan her ieaty feete. 1724–5 Swift Receipt to Stella 41 Your jetty locks with garlands crown'd. 1810 Scott Lady of L. ii. i, At morn the black-cock trims his jetty wing. |
b. quasi-adv. in comb., as jetty-black, jet-black.
| 1477–8 Bk. Curtesye (Caxton) 44 Your naylis loke they be not gety blacke [Hill MS. gety blake, Oriel MS. geet blake]. 1622 Drayton Poly-olb. xxvi. 410 Among the Moors the jettiest black are deem'd The beautifull'st of them. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 136 His horny Hoofs are jetty black and round. |
2. Of the nature or composition of jet.
| 1875 Ure's Dict. Arts III. 9 The jetty matter appears to have first entered the pores of the bone, and there hardened. |
Hence ˈjettiness.
| 1776 Pennant Zool. (1812) I. 441 (Reed Bunting) On the return of spring [the head] resumes its pristine jettyness. |
▪ III. † ˈjetty, a.2 Obs. rare.
[f. jet n.3 or v.2 + -y.]
Characterized by jetting or jutting; swelling.
| c 1611 Chapman Iliad ii. D iij b, Twise twentie Iettie sailes with him the swelling streame did take. |
▪ IV. jetty, v.1
(ˈdʒɛtɪ)
[f. jetty n.]
† 1. intr. To project, jut: said of a part of a building. Cf. jet. v.2 2, jutty v. Obs.
| 1598 Florio, Porgere, to iut, to iettie, or butte forth, as some parts of a building do, further then the rest. 1609 Heywood Brit. Troy xv. lxvi, Some Greekes the Pallace scale, The Laders cleaue unto the iettying stones. 1615 G. Sandys Trav. 120 Goodly buildings, having galleries..which ietty over, sustained upon pillars. |
† 2. trans. To furnish with projections (see quot.). Obs. rare—0.
| 1598 Florio, Adentellare,.. It is properly to ietty out or indent stones or timber of any vnfinished building, that another may the easier be ioyned vnto, or that finished. |
3. To furnish with a jetty or starling. rare.
| 1889 Sci. Amer. 16 Feb. 105/2 The expense will be but moderate, by jettying with brush and pile, and finally strengthening of stone. |
▪ V. † ˈjetty, v.2 Obs. rare.
In 6 iettie.
[app. an extension of jet v.1 or v.2]
intr. To move about briskly.
| 1573 Tusser Husb. (1878) 159 Concerning how prettie, how fine and how nettie, Good huswife should iettie From morning to night. |