jetty
jetty Lexical Profile
jetty Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A landing stage or small pier built out into a body of water at which boats can dock or be moored.
"The ferry pulled up alongside the wooden jetty to let the passengers disembark."
A structure made of stone, concrete, or wood that projects from the land out into water to protect a harbor, coastline, or river mouth from currents and tides.
"Engineers constructed a long stone jetty at the harbor entrance to prevent sandbars from forming in the shipping channel."
An upper story of a historic timber-framed building that projects outward beyond the dimensions of the floor directly below it.
"Many medieval houses along the narrow street feature an overhanging jetty that shades the walkway below."
• adjective
Having the deep, glossy black color of the mineral jet; jet-black.
"The raven's jetty feathers gleamed in the bright morning sunlight."
• verb
To project or jut outward, especially as an overhanging upper story of a building.
"The second floor of the Tudor inn jetties out over the cobbled lane."
• Rhymes for jetty
Word Origin & Etymology
The noun and verb derive from Middle English 'jettey', from Old French 'jetee' ('something thrown out or projecting'), the feminine past participle of 'jeter' ('to throw'), ultimately from Late Latin 'jactare'. The adjective sense derives separately from 'jet' (the glossy black mineral) plus the suffix '-y'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.