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 quelconque comme floteson.]
1607. Cowell, Interpr., Flotsen alias (Flotzam) is a word proper to the sease, signifing any goods that by shipwrecke be lost, and lie floting or swimming vpon the toppe of the water.
a. 1688. trans. Blacke Bk. Admiralty (1871), I. 83. Pipe of wine floating, bales of goods, or any other thing whatsoever, as ffloatson.
1708. J. Chamberlayne, The Present State of Great-Britain, I. II. ix. (1743), 81. To the Lord High-Admiral belongs … a Share of all lawful Prizes, Lagon, Flotson, and Jetson, as our Lawyers term it.
1814. Scott, Diary, 11 Aug., in Lockhart. The goods and chattels of the inhabitants are all said to savour of Flotsome and Jetsome, as the floating wreck and that which is driven ashore are severally called.
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 Year Round, V. 1 June, 235/1. Turkey buzzards were searching for flotson and jetson in the shape of dead Irish deck hands.
1884. R. Buchanan, Charles Reade, in Harper’s Mag., LXIX. Sept., 603/1. He [Reade] had a mania for buying all sorts of flotsam and jetsam, with the idea that they might ‘come in useful.’
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.
