Cargo thrown overboard (6) Crossword Clue
Answer: JETSAM (6 letters)
The answer to the crossword clue "Cargo thrown overboard" with 6 letters is "JETSAM".Jetsam refers to cargo or items that are deliberately thrown overboard from a ship, often to lighten the load during an emergency or storm. It typically refers to goods that are discarded, sometimes lost at sea, and often washed ashore.
Why “Jetsam” Fits
The clue asks for a single word (6 letters) meaning “cargo thrown overboard.” The answer, JETSAM, fits perfectly:
- Cargo thrown overboard: Jetsam refers to goods or cargo that are deliberately thrown overboard from a ship to lighten its load, typically in an emergency.
- Direct match: With six letters, jetsam fits the clue’s enumeration exactly.
- Precise meaning: It is the correct nautical term describing items ejected from a vessel — whether to save it from sinking or to reduce weight during distress at sea.
The term jetsam has deep roots in maritime language and law:
- Origin and usage: Derived from the word jettison, which means “to throw overboard,” it originated from the Old French geter and Latin jactare, meaning “to throw.”
Nautical context:
- Refers to goods intentionally cast into the sea, as opposed to flotsam, which denotes goods accidentally lost overboard.
- Together, flotsam and jetsam describe two categories of marine debris: one floating by accident, the other discarded by choice.
- Legal significance: Under maritime law, ownership rights differ depending on whether the goods were flotsam (accidental loss) or jetsam (intentional discard).
Examples:
- “The sailors threw jetsam into the stormy waters to steady the vessel.”
- “Maritime law distinguishes between flotsam and jetsam when adjudicating salvage rights.”
- “The beach was littered with jetsam carried in by the tide.”
Quick crossword clues like “cargo thrown overboard (6)” often test a solver’s knowledge of nautical terms:
- Common related words include flotsam (floating wreckage) and lagan (goods sunk but recoverable).
- Recognizing the subtle difference — that jetsam is deliberately jettisoned — allows seasoned solvers to identify the answer quickly.
- The concise, factual nature of the clue offers no wordplay, making jetsam a direct definition clue with a clear literal meaning.
