Jettison

"Jettison" is defined in the AHD as, "To cast overboard or off," or "to discard (something ) as unwanted or burdensome." It ultimately comes from the Vulgar Latin "iectare," meaning "to throw," and passed through Anglo-Norman (getteson) and Middle English (jetteson) on the way. Interestingly, "jet" also came from the same VL root, but came to Modern English through French, from the Old French "jeter," to spout forth, throw." So, "jettison" isn't simply a later, direct development from "jet" like I had previously thought when reading science fiction, but Tom Godwin's "The Cold Equations" still remains poignant through its discussion of just what it means to jettison a human life because it is too "burdensome."

-- AHD