flotsam
(ˈflɒtsəm)
Forms: 7 floatsam, -son, flotsan, -sen, -zan, 7–8 flotzam, 7, 9 flotsom(e, 7–9 flotson, 9 flotsum, (dial.) floatsome, 8– flotsam.
[ad. AF. floteson (= mod.F. flottaison):—late L. type *flottātiōnem, f. *flottāre, OF. floter to float.]
1. Law. Such part of the wreckage of a ship or its cargo as is found floating on the surface of the sea. Usually associated with jetsam.
| [Liber Niger Admiralitatis cxxxvi. (1871) I. 82 Pippe de vin flotants, balles de marchandises ou autre chose quel⁓conque comme floteson.] 1607 Cowell Interpr., Flotsen alias (Flotzam). a 1688 tr. Blacke Bk. Admiralty (1871) I. 83 Pipe of wine floating, bales of goods, or any other thing whatsoever, as ffloatson. 1708 J. Chamberlayne St. Gt. Brit. i. ii. ix. (1743) 81 To the Lord High Admiral belongs..a Share of all lawful prizes, Lagon, Flotson, and Jetson. 1814 Scott Diary 11 Aug. in Lockhart, The goods and chattles of the inhabitants are all said to savour of Flotsome and Jetsome. 1853 Act 16–17 Vict. c. 107 §76 All Goods derelict, jetsam, flotsam, and wreck brought or coming into the United Kingdom. |
b. transf. and fig. Sometimes used jocularly for ‘odds and ends’.
| 1861 All Y. Round 1 June 235 Turkey buzzards were searching for flotson and jetson in the shape of dead Irish deck hands. 1884 R. Buchanan in Harper's Mag. Sept. 603/1 A mania for buying all sorts of flotsam and jetsam. |
2. dial. (See quot. 1804).
| 1804 Duncumb Herefordsh. I. 213 Floatsome, timber, etc. accidentally carried down a river by a flood. 1890 in Gloucestersh. Gloss. 1894 Daily News 23 Nov. 6/7 How far the water has gone down may be gathered from the flotsam caught in the willow boughs. |
3. Newly ejected oyster-spawn.
| 1879 Cassell's Techn. Educ. IV. 154/1 Floatsome. 1882 Standard 18 Feb. 5/2 The spawn or ‘flotsom’ emitted from the bivalves. |