hijack
pronunciation
How to pronounce hijack in British English:
UK [ˈhaɪdʒæk]
How to pronounce hijack in American English:
US [ˈhaɪdʒæk]
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- Noun:
- seizure of a vehicle in transit either to rob it or divert it to an alternate destination
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- Verb:
- take arbitrarily or by force
Word Origin
- hijack (v.)
- 1922, American English, perhaps from high(way) + jacker "one who holds up." Originally "to rob (a bootlegger, smuggler, etc.) in transit;" sense of "seizing an aircraft in flight" is 1968 (also in 1961 variant skyjack), extended 1970s to any form of public transportation. Related: Hijacked; hijacking.
Example
- 1. Elections consist of different tribes fighting to hijack the state to use in their own interests .
- 2. Battered by criticism at home and abroad , the police admitted to " defects " in their handling of the hijack .
- 3. The hijack gang had initially demanded more than 17 million to free the korean-built vessel , which was launched in march last year .
- 4. Hijack one such account , and you can exploit a whole network of trusting and trusted contacts .
- 5. He poses the obvious question : why would anybody want to hijack a ship full of wood ?