Jêt'son or Sān or Flōtson

. (Mar. Law.) (a.) The voluntary throwing of goods overboard, in case of extreme peril, in order to lighten a ship and preserve her. (b.) The goods thus thrown away, and which remain under water. [Written also jettison.]

Jetsam is where goods are cast into the sea, and there sink, and remain under water; flotsam is where they continue swimming; ligan is where they are sunk in the sea, but tied to a cork or buoy. Blackstone.