Flotsam and jetsam
These are the terms we use in our house to describe general bits and pieces of detritus. I looked up the definition of these two words and found a third, lagan, unknown to me. They are all associated with the maritime world and have legal definitions to do with defining and establishing claims of ownership.
Flotsam comes from the Old French, ‘floter’ which meant ‘to float.’ It came into use in the early 17th century and described items that had been lost overboard or had risen to the surface from a sunken vessel.
Anyone who finds flotsam is permitted to claim it unless someone else can prove their ownership of it. For example, in 2019, more than a hundred cargo containers were lost from a cargo ship in heavy seas off the German coast. They washed up on the Dutch coast and were judged to be flotsam.
So, flotsam is incidental, unintentional rubbish on the surface of the sea. If things are deliberately cast or jettisoned from a vessel in danger of sinking, in order to lighten its load, it is called jetsam. Jetsam may either float or sink and again, it may be claimed by the person or persons finding it and is not required to be returned to its owner, unless the owner makes a legal claim to it.
Lagan, sometimes called ligan, is differentiated from jetsam by having a marker buoy attached to it, to indicate where it sank, so that it can be recovered. The person who marks the buoy is considered to be the rightful owner.
In an alternative use, Flotsam and Jetsam are an American thrash metal band.
Flotsam and Jetsam are also the names of two moray eels in the Disney film, ‘The Little Mermaid.’
Flotsam and Jetsam were also an early 1980s rock group in Sydney. I didn't like the name because it made them sound a bit dirty and messy, but they had some successful releases.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting. There's little new under the sun.
DeleteI knew about flotsam and jetsam but hadn't heard of Lagan. Thank you
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to find out where these terms come from.
DeleteSame here..lagan is a new one for me. I always look forward to my daily educational post from you!
ReplyDeleteYou made me laugh out loud . . . 🤣😂
DeleteEven after all my years in the shipping industry I learned a new term today.
ReplyDeleteIt never ceases to amaze me that we can continue to learn. Sad are the people who think they know everything.
DeleteIt's bits and bobs in our house, I had not heard of lagon, but it does make sense, we live across the water from a Portsmouth dock yard and have never seen anything washed up on our shore line.
ReplyDeleteI always feel I have an affinity with Portsmouth, as both my parents came from that area, though I've never lived there.
DeleteBeing a lover of words, I thoroughly enjoyed this. A fun read, thank you!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you liked it, Denise.
DeleteI had never heard of lagan or ligan. It's always a treat to come and and learn something new every day
ReplyDeleteI only came across lagan the other day. How many more millions of words don't I know?
DeleteI think this post is lagan, not flotsam or jetsam.
ReplyDeleteYou mean it should sink without trace?
DeleteLagan is a new one for me too - TQ
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
😀
DeleteHa, never knew that Flotsam and Jetsam is the name of an American thrash metal band.
ReplyDelete(Long story about how we decided on a Havanese. After Tulip passed, we decided to think about getting another pup. Follow a writer on a substack who wrote about getting his new pup - which happened to be a Havanese. It was so pretty that we began looking for Havanese breeders. There were two relatively close.....we went to visit one, saw Olive there, and the rich is history. So different than the toy fox terriers. I am not used to all of the grooming. Sigh. She has her own brushes and combs. I spend more time on HER hair than on mine. LOL.)
Thank you for the information, Mary. I've had a quick squizz at the breed - they are just gorgeous.
DeleteHa, plus a lot of work! Much more than the toy fox terrier breed. Plus they need professional grooming every few months. $$$. Smiles.
DeleteHi Janice - I didn't know about Lagan ... interesting - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteLike you, I could use the term, but now I understand the origin (I can't find the word that I want instead of origin, having . . . oh wait . . . etymology, OI guess). 😁
ReplyDeleteThank you for clarifying the definitions. I love learning new things.
ReplyDeleteSo do I, but whether I'll retain the information is another matter entirely!
DeleteVery interesting. Lagan is new to me, too.
ReplyDeleteEnglish is such a rich, mongrel language.
DeleteI must say that I have learned a lot here today. Flotsam and Jetsam are familiar words, although I'm not sure I ever knew their meaning. As for Lagan, that is entirely new to me. Thanks for the explanations.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kim.
DeleteFlotsam and Jetsam yes, I'd come across before but not Lagan, that was new to me.
ReplyDeleteAnother interesting read, thank you.
All the best Jan
Perhaps we should be saying, 'Flotsam, jetsam and langan' now!😉
DeleteGracias por la explicación. Te mando un beso.
ReplyDeleteIs there a similar saying in Spanish?
DeleteI'd heard of flotsam and jetsam but had no idea of their origins. The word lagan was new to me though! Thank you for another informative post, Janice! xxx
ReplyDeleteI guess lagan has not caught the imagination in the same way as flotsam and jetsam.
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