c. 1600, from Anglo-French floteson, from Old French flotaison "a floating" (Modern French flottaison), from floter "to float, set afloat" (of Germanic origin; see flotilla) + -aison, from Latin -ation(em). Spelled flotsen in English till mid-19c. when it altered, perhaps under influence of many English words in -some. Folk-etymologized in dialect as floatsome.
In British law, flotsam are goods found floating on the sea as a consequence of a shipwreck or action of wind or waves; jetsam are things cast out of a ship in danger of being wrecked, and afterward washed ashore, or things cast ashore by the sailors. Whatever sinks is lagan. Flotsam and jetsam figuratively for "odds and ends" is attested by 1861.
实用例句
1. The water was full of flotsam and refuse.
水里漂满了垃圾和废物。
来自柯林斯例句
2. He was another of the city's flotsam.
他是这个城市里又一个流浪者。
来自柯林斯例句
3. The beaches are wide and filled with interesting flotsam and jetsam .
海滩宽阔，到处是有趣的被冲上岸的零碎杂物。
来自《权威词典》
4. Sick and starving refugees are the flotsam and jetsam of war.
生病和饥饿的难民是遭战祸而流离失所的苦命人.
来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
5. You know the difference between flotsam and jetsam?